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RECORDS 


SPANISH   INQUISITION, 


TRANSLATED    FROM    THE 


ORIGINAL  MANUSCRIPTS. 


BOSTON: 

SAMUEL  G.  GOODRICH,  141  WASHINGTON  STREET. 
MDCCCXXVIII. 


DISTRICT    OF    MASSACHUSETTS,  to  Wit .' 

District  Clerk's  Office. 

Be  it  remembered,  That  on  the  twentysixth  day  of  May,  a.  d.  1828, 
in  the  fiftysecond  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  Samuel  G.  Goodrich,  of  the  said  district,  has  deposited  in  this 
office,  the  title  of  a  book,  the  right  whereof  he  claims  as  proprietor,  in  the 
words   following,  to  wit; 

'  Records  of  the  Spanish  Inquisition,  translated  from  the  Original  Manu- 
scripts.' 

In  conformity  to  the  act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled 
1  An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps, 
charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies,  during  the 
time  therein  mentioned;'  and  also  to  an  act  entitled  'An  act  supplementary 
to  an  act,  entitled,  an  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the 
copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies 
during  the  times  therein  mentioned  ;  and  extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the 
arts  of  designing,  engraving  and  etching  historical  and  other  prints.' 

JNO.  W.  DAVIS, 
Clerk  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


EXAMINER    TRESS. 

Hiram  Tupper,  Printer — Bromfield  Lane. 


VGETQS 


.^OGxoiir, 


PREFACE. 


The  manner  in  which  the  originals  of  the  following  work  came 
into  the  hands  of  the  translator  may  be  described  in  a  few  words. 
These  papers  are  a  oart  of  the  Records  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, and  were  obtained  during  the  revolution  which  broke  out 
at  Cadiz  in  1819. 

The  province  of  Catalonia,  of  which  Barcelona  is  the  capital, 
was  one  of  the  most  forward  and  zealous  to  embrace  the  cause  of 
freedom.  Its  inhabitants  have,  in  all  times,  been  distinguished 
for  their  daring  and  determined  spirit,  and  their  ardent  love  of 
liberty.  The  revolution  moved  with  rapid  strides  from  the  Isle 
of  Leon  to  the  Ebro.  On  the  twentyeighth  of  February,  1820, 
the  governor  of  Tarragona  received  a  summons  to  repair  imme- 
diately to  Madrid,  and  in  a  few  days  the  insurrection  burst  out 
in  the  former  place.  On  the  fourteenth  of  March,  two  days  after 
this,  it  exploded  at  Barcelona. 

The  first  movement  of  the  revolutionary  party  was  to  depose 
the  Captain  General  of  the  province.  This  office  was  then  held 
by  Castanas,  a  royalist.  His  predecessor  was  General  Villacampa, 
an  officer  of  some  distinction,  who  had  been  deprived  of  the 
captain-generalship,  and  banished  to  Mataro,  a  small  town  on  the 
coast,  for  his  attachment  to  liberal  principles.  Castanas  was 
forced  to  resign,  and  Villacampa  was  conducted  in  triumph  from 
his  place  of  banishment  to  Barcelona,  and  reinstated  in  his  dig- 
nity by  the  populace. 

The  government  of  the  city  being  revolutionized,  their  next 
thoughts  were  directed  to  the  Inquisition,  the  great  engine  of 
priestly  oppression,  and  the  object  of  dread  and  detestation  to  the 
friends  of  liberty,  both  political  and  religious.      The  vast  and 


iv  PREFACE. 

gloomy  piles  of  this  tribunal,  which  covered  a  spot  of  more  than 
ten  times  the  extent  of  the  Massachusetts  State  Prison,  had  been 
too  long  the  terror  of  the  oppressed  and  restless  Catalonians  to 
escape  distinguished  notice  on  this  occasion.  The  populace  de- 
manded, with  loud  cries,  of  the  Captain  General,  that  the  Inquisi- 
torial Palace  should  be  thrown  open.  What  answer  was  given 
by  Villacampa  to  this  demand,  does  not  appear.  A  body  of 
twenty  thousand  persons  rushed  to  the  Inquisition,  stormed  at 
the  gates,  and  demanded  admittance.  Those  within  told  them 
to  wait  a  few  minutes  and  the  gates  should  be  opened.  This  in- 
terval they  improved  to  make  their  escape,  and  in  a  short  time 
the  populace,  growing  impatient,  burst  the  gates  and  rushed  in. 

Every  part  of  the  premises  was  immediately  filled.  The  dun- 
geons were  broken  open  ;  the  prisoners  released,  and  the  papers 
cast  out  at  the  windows.  For  several  days  these  were  thrown 
in  great  numbers  about  the  streets  of  the  city,  and  a  small  por- 
tion of  them,  after  passing  through  various  hands,  came  into  the 
possession  of  a  gentleman  of  this  city,  who  at  that  period  was 
travelling  in  Spain.  These  papers  were  forwarded  to  Boston  in 
1820. 

It  was  thought  that  a  publication  of  these  documents  would  be 
received  with  much  interest  and  satisfaction  by  the  community, 
as  nothing  of  the  kind  has  ever  before  seen  the  light.  There  are 
indeed  some  authentic  and  well  written  compilations  relating  to 
this  subject,  as  well  as  a  few  narratives  given  by  persons  who 
have  been  imprisoned  in  the  dungeons  of  the  Holy  Office ;  but  a 
copious  and  minute  detail  of  the  forms  and  proceedings  observed 
in  the  trials  and  investigations  of  the  Inquisitorial  Tribunal,  such 
as  is  afforded  in  the  following  pages,  has  never,  till  this  moment, 
existed  in  print.  Should  the  Holy  Office  again  rear  its  head  in 
Spain,  perhaps  the  Fiscal  and  Calificadores  might  do  the  pub- 
lisher and  Translator  of  this  work  the  honor  to  take  some  notice 
of  their  labors.  It  is  to  be  hoped,  however,  that  these  most 
illustrious  and  apostolical  Senores  may  not  very  soon  have  occa- 
sion to  obtain  for  either  of  us  any  such  notoriety. 

Boston,  June,  182S. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  INQUISITION. 


This  establishment  had  its  origin  in  the  endeavours  of  the  Ro- 
man pontiffs  for  the  suppression  of  heresy.  In  the  year  1 184, 
Pope  Lucius  II.,  alarmed  at  the  appearance  of  the  new  religious 
sects  in  Dauphiny  and  Provence,  called  a  great  council  at  Verona, 
where  a  severe  decree  was  issued  against  them,  and  the  power 
of  the  secular  princes  called  to  aid  in  their  discovery  and  punish- 
ment. In  this  decree  we  perceive  the  embryo  of  the  Inquisition, 
although  its  proper  foundation  is  commonly  fixed  some  years 
later.  * 

It  was  in  France,  in  the  year  1208,  that  it  was  first  established, 
and  took  a  distinct  character  under  the  direction  of  Pope  Inno- 
cent III.,  who  despatched  legates  into  that  country,  with  a  power 
independent  of  the  bishops,  to  persecute  the  heretics  with  the 
assistance  of  the  secular  arm.  The  unfortunate  Albigenses,  the 
objects  of  this  persecution,  were  extirpated  with  fire  and  sword, 
and  the  death  of  thousands  by  massacres,  tortures,  and  the  funer- 
al pile,  signalized  the  commencement  of  the  Inquisition,  f 

This  was  in  the  reign  of  Philip  Augustus,  during  which  the 
Inquisition  appears  not  to  have  been  in  exercise  beyond  the  limits 
of  Provence  and  Languedoc;  but  in  1255,  at  the  request  of 
Louis  IX.,  it  was  established  by  the  papal  authority  throughout 
the  whole  kingdom,  with  the  exception  of  the  territories  of  the 

*  Fleury,  Hist.  Ecclesiast.     f  Sismondi,  Litterature  du  Midi  de  1'  Europe. 


VI  HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  INQUISITION. 

Count  of  Poitiers  and  Toulouse.  *  It  did  not  however,  obtain 
any  permanent  footing  here,  although  the  exact  period  of  its  dis- 
continuance is  not  easy  to  ascertain.  In  1560,  the  Cardinal  of 
Lorraine  made  an  effectual  attempt  to  introduce  it  into  France 
against  the  Protestants,  which  is  the  last  time  we  find  it  men- 
tioned in  connexion  with  the  history  of  that  country,  t 

In  1224,  it  was  established  by  Pope  Honorius  II.  in  all  the 
States  of  Italy,  except  Venice  and  Naples.  In  1289,  it  was  es- 
tablished at  Venice.  |  It  appears  to  have  been  in  existence  in 
the  kingdom  of  Naples  as  early  as  1269. §  There  is  no  very  fre- 
quent mention  of  it  in  the  histories  of  that  period,  and  we  may 
conclude  that  it  did  not  assume  that  sanguinary  character  in  these 
countries,  which  marked  its  first  existence  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Alps.  It  disappeared  from  all  these  parts,  except  the  Papal 
States,  before  completing  a  long  career. 

It  was  in  Spain  that  this  terrible  tribunal  was  destined  to  ob- 
tain the  firmest  footing,  and  exercise  the  bloodiest  sway.  Its  es- 
tablishment in  this  country  may  be  dated  at  the  year  1232,  and 
it  gradually  made  its  way  into  all  the  principalities  of  which  this 
kingdom  is  composed,  though  not  without  a  bloody  resistance  on 
the  part  of  the  inhabitants,  who  entertained  the  utmost  horror  of 
the  Inquisition,  and  killed  many  of  the  Dominican  Friars,  who 
were  its  chief  ministers,  and  the  instruments  of  its  establishment.  || 
In  1481,  upon  the  union,  under  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  of  the 
Kingdom  of  Castile  and  Arragon,  the  inquisitorial  constitution 
was  reformed  and  modified,  with  respect  to  its  various  limits  of 
territorial  jurisdiction,  and  also  by  the  introduction  of  new  and 
severe  statutes  and  rules.  This  was  called  the  modern  Inquisi- 
tion,^] and  the  pretext  for  its  establishment  was  the  persecution 

*  Sisniondi,  Hist,  des  Frangais.     f  Fleury,  Hist.  Ecclesiast. 
t  Dam,  Hist,  de  Venise.     §  Giannone,  Storia  di  Napoli. 

||  Llorente  Hist,  de  la  Inquisicion  de  Espana. 

'[  Mariana,  Hist,  de  Espana.      Llorente. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  INQUISITION.  Vll 

of  the  converted  Jews,  who  were  suspected  of  relapsing  to  their 
former  faith.  It  afterwards  took  under  its  cognizance  other 
heresies,  and  some  civil  offences.  It  is  very  clear  that  the  peo- 
ple felt  a  decided  aversion  to  it,  which  they  manifested  in  violent 
tiimults.  Nevertheless  force  and  terror  overcame  their  resistance, 
and  the  domineering  spirit  of  the  Pope,  the  avarice  of  Ferdinand, 
and  the  fanaticism  of  the  monks,  succeeded  in  fastening  the  iron 
yoke  of  the  Inquisition  upon  the  necks  of  the  Spaniards.  It  ran 
an  uninterrupted  career  until  abolished  by  Napoleon  on  the 
fourth  of  December,  1808. 

The  circumstances  of  its  introduction  into  Portugal  are  too  cu- 
rious to  be  omitted.  About  the  year  1540,  there  was  in  Spain, 
a  monk  of  the  name  of  Saavedra,  who  forged  apostolic  bulls, 
royal  decrees,  and  bills  of  exchange,  with  so  much  accuracy,  that 
they  passed  with  every  one  for  genuine.  He  succeeded  so  well 
as  to  pass  himself  off  for  a  knight  and  commander  of  the  military 
order  of  St  Jago,  the  income  of  which,  amounting  to  three  thous- 
and ducats,  he  received  for  the  space  of  a  year  and  a  half.  In  a 
short  time  he  acquired,  by  means  of  the  royal  deeds  which  he 
counterfeited,  three  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  ducats. 

With  a  little  prudence  he  might  have  remained  undetected 
through  life,  but  his  successes  tempted  him  to  undertakings  which 
led  to  his  discovery.  He  fell  in  company  with  a  Jesuit  travelling 
to  Portugal,  with  an  apostolic  brief  for  the  foundation  there  of  a 
college  of  that  order.  These  two  concerted  measures  for  intro- 
ducing the  Inquisition  as  well  as  the  Jesuits  into  Portugal. 
Saavedra  forged  letters  from  Charles  V.  to  the  King  of  Portugal, 
and  a  papal  bull  establishing  the  Inquisition  in  that  country. 
This  bull  appointed  Saavedra  legate  a  latere  for  the  purpose. 

This  daring  and  brazenfaced  impostor  then  took  upon  him  the 
character  and  costume  of  a  Roman  cardinal.  He  travelled  with 
litters,  silver  dishes,  and  a  train  of  attendants,  levying  money  on 
his  course  by  forging  bonds.     He  sent  his  secretary  to  Lisbon 


Vlli  HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  INQUISITION. 

with  his  bull  and  papers  to  prepare  for  his  reception.  The  king 
despatched  to  the  frontiers  a  distinguished  nobleman  to  receive 
him,  and  he  made  his  entry  into  Lisbon,  where  he  spent  three 
months,  and  was  treated  with  the  highest  respect.  He  after- 
wards travelled  through  the  kingdom,  and  completed  the  business 
for  which  he  had  made  his  visit.  He  was  at  last  detected  by  the 
Inquisitor  General  of  Spain  and  arrested.  After  a  trial  by  the 
Inquisition,  he  was  sentenced  to  the  gallies  for  ten  years.  The 
king  added  nine  years  more  to  the  period.  Almost  all  the  estab- 
lishments made  by  him  in  Portugal,  were  retained  under  the  pre- 
tence that  the  Holy  Office  was  necessary  to  persecute  the  Jews. 

It  has  been  the  endeavour  of  the  Spanish  monarchs  to  extend 
it  to  every  country  under  their  dominion.  The  Emperor  Charles 
V.,  whose  zeal  for  the  Inquisition  has  procured  him  the  title  of 
the  Don  Quixote  of  the  Faith,  established  it  in  the  Netherlands 
in  1522,  and  vast  multitudes,  who  had  embraced  the  Reformed  re- 
ligion, perished  on  its  funeral  piles.  This  bloody  persecution 
was  one  of  the  means  of  exciting  the  revolt  by  which  Holland 
was  freed  from  the  Spanish  yoke.*  An  attempt  was  also  made 
by  him  to  introduce  it  into  Naples,  but  it  encountered  the  most 
determined  opposition.  The  Neapolitans  rose  in  insurrection, 
massacred  the  Spaniards,  and  obliged  the  emperor  to  give  over 
the  project.  About  the  time  of  its  appearance  in  the  Netherlands 
it  was  also  established  in  the  Spanish  dominions  in  America. 
The  first  autos  de  fe  were  celebrated  at  Lima  in  1639.  t  The 
Portuguese  carried  it  into  their  East  Indian  Colonies,  fixing  it  at 
Goa  in  1559. §     In  Brazil,  however,  it  has  never  existed. 

The  modern  history  of  the  Inquisition  must  be  familiar  to  every 
reader.  Its  abolition  by  Napoleon  in  1808,  its  reestablishment 
under  Ferdinand  VII.  and  its  second  overthrow  by  the  Spanish 
people  in  1820,  are  events  too  well  known  to  need  a  recapitula- 
tion here. 

*  Schiller,  Abfall  der  Niederlande.  f  Llorente. 

§  Lafitau,  Conquestes  des  Portugais, 


RECORDS 


SPANISH    INaUISITION 


TRIAL  OF  PEDRO  GINESTA,  NATIVE  OF  THE  VILLAGE  OF  ST 
Q.UINTI,  IN  THE  DIOCESE  OF  ST  FLOR,  FOR  EATING  BA- 
CON  ON  A  PROHIBITED  DAY 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  fourth  day  of  September,  one 
thousand  six  hundred  and  thirtyfive,  present,  the 
Inquisitor  Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta,  offici- 
ating alone  in  his  morning  audience  ;  having 
examined  the  information  received  against  Pe- 
dro Ginesta,  native  of  the  village  of  St  Quinti, 
diocese  of  St  Flor,  and  Joan  Mella,  of  the  vil- 
lage of  St  Maurion,  parish  of  Xauvinar,  diocese 
of  Clermont,  in  the  kingdom  of  France,  by  oc- 
cupation both  braziers,  the  same  being  in  cus- 
tody of  the  Commissioner  of  Salas  in  the  pris- 
on of  Agna  Villa, — ordered,  that  the  abovemen- 
tioned  persons  be  transferred  to  the  secret  pris- 
2 


10  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

on  of  this  palace  of  the  Inquisition,*  and  that 
their  trial  be  instituted  in  form  ;  also  ordered, 
that  the  Commissioner  aforesaid  be  instructed 
to  attest  ad  perpetuam  the  evidence  of  the  wit- 
nesses, ascertain  the  identity  of  the  persons  whom 
they  depose  against,  and  whether  the  said  pris- 
oners be  the  persons  whom  they  charge  with 
having  eaten  bacon  on  St  Bartholomew's  eve, 
notwithstanding  the  prohibition ;  also  that  the 
said  prisoners,  after  the  business  of  the  deposi- 
tion is  despatched,  be  conveyed  with  care  by  the 

*  As  soon  as  the  crime  of  suspicion  of  heresy  was  established  in 
the  preliminary  accusation,  the  Inquisitors  ordered  the  arrest  of  the 
delinquent.  From  that  moment  there  were  neither  privileges  nor 
shelter  for  him.  Whatever  might  be  his  rank,  he  was  seized  in  the 
midst  of  his  family  and  friends,  and  no  one  dared  to  offer  the  least 
resistance.  From  the  instant  he  was  in  the  hands  of  the  Inquisition 
not  an  individual  was  allowed  any  communication  with  him,  he  was 
abandoned  by  all  the  world  and  deprived  of  every  species  of  con- 
solation. Wo  to  the  compassionate  mind  that  dared  to  show  any 
sympathy  for  a  victim  of  the  Inquisition.  The  accused  was  plunged 
into  a  frightful  dungeon  till  the  Inquisitors  saw  fit  to  interrogate  him. 

In  the  mean  time  the  officers  of  the  Inquisition  proceeded  to  the 
dwelling  of  the  accused,  and  drew  up  an  inventory  of  all  his  goods, 
which  were  immediately  seized.  His  creditors  lost  their  debts  ;  his 
wife  and  children  were  left  in  the  most  pitiable  desertion ;  wives 
and  daughters  the  most  virtuous  and  accomplished,  have  many  times 
been  seen  reduced  to  the  horrible  necessity  of  gaining  a  wretched 
existence  by  prostitution,  occasioned  by  their  destitute  state  and  the 
contempt  attached  to  them  from  being  connected  with  a  person  ap- 
prehended by  the  Holy  Office.  After  he  had  passed  many  days  and 
even  months  in  prison,  the  Inquisitors  caused  him  to  insinuate,  by 
means  of  the  jailor,  that  he  demanded  audience  ;  for  it  was  a  con- 
stant practice  of  this  Tribunal  to  contrive  that  the  accused  should 
be  the  person  to  demand.  The  prisoner,  appearing  before  his  judg- 
es for  the  first  time,  they  questioned  him  as  if  they  did  not  know  him, 
and  engaged  him  by  the  most  crafty  methods,  to  acknowledge  his 
crime.     Llorente  Hist,  de  la  Inquisition. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  1 1 

hands  of  the  several  Familiars,  to  the  prison  of 
this  Inquisition. 

For  which  purpose  let  the  necessary  measures 
be  taken. 

Before  me — 

Mattheo  Magre,  Sec'y. 


In  the  town  of  Tremp,  bishopric  of  Urgel, 
on  the  twentyfifth  day  of  August,  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  thirtyfive,  in  the  morning,  before 
the  Licenciate  Joan  Torroella,  Presbyter  Com- 
missary of  the  Holy  Office  of  the  Inquisition  in 
the  town  of  Salas, — appeared  according  to  sum- 
mons and  swore  formally  to  declare  the  truth,  a 
man  who  asserted  his  name  to  be  Joan  Compte, 
a  native  and  resident  of  the  town  of  Talarn,  in 
the  abovementioned  bishopric,  of  age  as  he  stat- 
ed, fiftyfive  years  or  thereabout. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the 
cause  of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  he  neither  knew  nor  conjectur- 
ed. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  had  heard  that 
any  person  had  spoken  or  done  anything  which 
was,  or  appeared  to  be,  contrary  to  our  holy 
Catholic  Faith,  and  evangelical  doctrine  preach- 
ed and  taught  by  the  holy  Catholic  Roman 
Church,  or  against  the  just  and  free  exercise  of 
the  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  that  he  knew  nothing  of  the  mat- 
ters respecting  which  he  was  questioned,  except 
that  on  the  eve  of  St  Bartholomew  last,  being 


12  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

in  the  town  of  Timian  in  the  abovementioned 
bishopric  of  Urgel,  he  went  to  the  tavern  of  Pit- 
ieu,  and  saw  there  a  man,  by  occupation  a  bra- 
zier, with  a  grey  beard,  which  person  was  well 
known  to  the  deponent,  he  having  seen  and  en- 
tertained him  in  the  town  of  Calan,  where  he 
exercised  his  trade  and  had  labored  for  the 
deponent.  The  name  of  this  person  deponent 
did  not  know,  never  having  heard  it  mentioned. 
At  the  same  place  was  a  young  man  whom  the 
said  brazier  stated  to  be  his  journeyman.  These 
two  were  sitting  at  table  and  eating  soup,  which, 
being  despatched,  deponent  saw  the  said  person 
empty  an  earthen  dish  of  bacon  and  onions  in- 
to a  frying-pan,  and  the  said  brazier  asked  de- 
ponent Jf  he  would  eat  with  him,  to  which  he 
replied  that  it  was  the  eve  and  fast  of  St  Bar- 
tholomew, at  which  time  it  was  forbidden  by  the 
church  to  eat  such  food.  Notwithstanding  this, 
the  said  brazier  and  his  servant  did,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  deponent,  eat  the  said  bacon  and 
onions,  a  small  portion  of  which  was  observed 
to  remain  in  the  dish.  This  remnant  the  said  per- 
sons placed  on  a  piece  of  bread  and  presented 
it  in  a  plate  to  the  hostess.  This  done,  the  bra- 
zier and  his  servant  went  away  to  the  plaza  of 
the  town,  and  deponent  remained  in  the  tavern 
with  the  hostess  abovementioned.  This  is  the 
truth  according  to  the  oath  of  the  witness,  and 
being  read  in  his  presence,  is  declared  by  him  to 
be  correctly  written.     Witness  declares  that  he 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  13 

does  not  make  this  statement  out  of  malice  to 
any  one.  Secrecy  being  enjoined  upon  him,  he 
promised  to  observe  it ;  and  he  being  unable  to 
write,  I,  the  said  Commissary,  sign  in  his  name. 
Joan  Torroella,  Commissary. 


In  the  town  of  Semiana,  bishopric  of  Urge], 
on  the  twentyeighth  day  of  August,  one  thous- 
and six  hundred  and  thirtyfive,  in  the  morning, 
before  the  Rev.  Sr.  Licentiate  Joan  Torroella, 
Presbyter  Commissary  of  the  Holy  Office  in  the 
town  of  Salas,  appeared  according  to  summons 
and  swore  formally  to  declare  the  truth,  a  wo- 
man calling  herself  Geronima  Aymara,  wife  of 
Pedro  Aymar  y  Piteu,  husbandman,  native  and 
resident  of  the  town  of  Semiana,  of  age,  as  she 
stated,  forty  years  or  thereabout. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  or  conjectured  the 
the  cause  of  her  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  she  supposed  it  to  be  in  order 
to  learn  whether  some  persons  had  eaten  flesh 
in  her  house  on  the  eve  of  St  Bartholomew  the 
Apostle,  respecting  which  she  could  state,  that 
on  the  time  specified,  two  persons  had  been  at 
her  house, of  whose  names  she  was  ignorant,  but 
remembered  that  one  was  -an  old  man  and  the 
other  a  youth,  both  by  occupation  braziers ; 
the  said  youth  asked  witness  to  cook  for  them 
a  dish  of  salted  bacon  which  sat  upon  a  table. 
Witness  demanded  in  reply  why  they  wanted  to 
cat  bacon  on  that  day.    The  young  man  repeated 


14  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

his  demand  to  have  the  bacon  cooked  for  they 
meant  to  eat  it.  Witness  answered  that  she  was 
unwilling,  as  it  was  at  such  a  time.  The  young 
man  again  demanded  to  have  the  bacon  cooked, 
and  told  her  to  put  onions  along  with  it  in  the 
pot.  Whereupon  witness  proceeded  to  cook  the 
bacon,  adding  one  dineroi's  worth  of  onions, 
which  she  bought  for  that  purpose.  Having  done 
this,  she  placed  the  victuals  on  the  table  before 
the  said  persons,  and  at  this  moment  entered 
Juan  Compte  of  the  town  of  Talarn  ;  as  Avitness 
was  baking  on  that  day  and  was  obliged  to  at- 
tend to  her  oven,  she  did  no  more  than  set  the 
victuals  on  the  table  before  the  said  persons,  and 
being  asked  by  Juan  Compte  for  something  to 
eat,  answered  that  he  must  wait  till  she  returned 
from  the  oven,  which  he  did,  and  upon  her  re- 
turn she  found  the  above  two  persons  at  table, 
one  of  whom  ordered  her  to  take  away  what  re- 
mained of  the  meat,  and  witness  saw  that  there 
was  left  a  bit  of  the  bacon  and  a  few  mouthfuls 
of  the  onions  she  had  cooked,  the  bacon  being 
thrust  into  a  piece  of  bread.  After  this  the  two 
persons  aforesaid  left  the  house,  having  been 
seen  to  eat  their  meal  by  the  abovementioned 
Joan  Compte,  who  was  present  all  the  time. 
Furthermore  witness  stated,  that  she  believes 
she  heard  her  husband  say,  on  the  evening  of 
the  Wednesday  before,  that  he  heard  the  above 
persons  declare  they  meant  to  eat  that  piece  of 
bacon,  which  they  had  procured,  the  next  day, 
which  was  St  Bartholomew's,  as  aforesaid,  and 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  15 

that  her  husband  replied,  they  could  not,  as  it  was 
a  fast.  This  is  the  truth  according  to  the  oath  of 
the  witness,  and  being  read  in  her  presence  is  de- 
clared by  her  to  be  correctly  written.  Witness 
further  states  that  she  does  not  make  this  de- 
claration out  of  malice  to  any  one.  Secrecy  be- 
ing enjoined  upon  her,  she  promised  to  observe 
it;  and  she,  not  being  able  to  write,  I,  the  said 
Commissary,  sign  in  her  name. 
The  Licentiate 

Joan  Torroella,  Commissary. 


In  the  village  of  Sanserin,  parish  of  Semiana, 
in  the  morning,  before  the  abovementioned 
Licentiate  Commissary  Joan  Torroella,  appear- 
ed according  to  summons  and  swore  formally 
to  declare  the  truth,  a  woman  calling  herself 
Isabel  Ramoneda,  wife  of  Pedro  Ramoneda, 
husbandman,  a  resident  of  the  said  village  of 
Sanserin,  of  age,  as  she  stated,  thirty  years  or 
thereabout. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  or  conjectured  the 
cause  of  her  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  she  supposed  it  to  be  for  the 
purpose  of  ascertaining  whether  certain  Gascons 
had  eaten  flesh  in  Semiana,  on  last  St  Bar- 
tholomew's eve,  concerning  which,  she  could 
state,  that  on  Thursday  last,  which  was  St 
Bartholomew's  day,  there  came  to  her  house  in 
the  evening  a  Gascon,  whom  she  believes  to  be 
named  Pedro,  an  old  man,  and  by  trade  a  bra- 
zier.    He  had  come,  as  he  stated,  from  the  town 


16  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

of  Semiana  ;  and  standing  at  the  door  of  the 
house  of  this  witness,  there  passed  by  the  ser- 
vants of  Francisco  Rocabruna,  apothecary  of 
Semiana,  when  the  said  Gascon  demanded  of 
the  lads  whether  they  knew  if  the  young  man 
who  had  been  apprehended  at  Semiana,  was  re- 
leased, to  which  they  replied,  'No,'  and  cried  out 
'  Ha  !  Lutheran,  eat  meat  on  a  fast  day  ! '  The 
lads  having  passed,  he  said  to  witness  that  he 
had  been  eating,  and  that  he  was  sorry  or  not 
sorry,  witness  does  not  remember  which  of  the 
two.  No  other  person  was  present.  This  is  the 
truth  according  to  the  oath  of  the  witness,  and 
being  read  in  her  presence  is  declared  by  her 
to  be  correctly  recorded.  Witness  declares  that 
she  does  not  make  this  statement  out  of  malice 
towards  any  one.  Secrecy  being  enjoined  upon 
her,  she  promised  to  observe  it.  She  being  un- 
able to  write,  1,  the  said  Commissary,  sign  in  her 
name.  The  Licentiate 

Joan  Torroella,  Commissary. 


In  the  village  of  Sanserin,  on  the  same  morn- 
ing, appeared  according  to  summons  and  swore 
formally  to  declare  the  truth,  a  man  calling 
himself  Juan  Monco,  husbandman,  native  and 
resident  of  the  village  abovemenlioned,  of  age, 
as  he  stated,  twenty  years  or  thereabout. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the 
cause  of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  he  supposed  it  to  be  for  the 
purpose   of  learning  whether  certain  Gascons 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  17 

had  eaten  flesh  in  the  town  of  Semiana  on  the 
eve  of  St  Bartholomew  last,  concerning  which 
he  could  state,  that  on  the  evening  of  the  said 
day  of  St  Bartholomew,  being  near  the  house  of 
Pedro  Ramonera,  where  there  was  a  Gascon, 
whose  name  was  unknown  to  the  witness, 
which  Gascon  was  an  old  man,  corpulent,  and 
by  trade  a  brazier,  there  passed  by  the  servant 
of  the  apothecary  Rocabruna,  of  Tremp,  whose 
name  is  unknown  to  witness.  This  servant  of 
Rocabruna  was  heard  by  the  deponent  to  say  to 
the  said  Gascon,  '  Ha,  Lutheran !  eat  flesh  on 
a  fast  day ! '  And  deponent  heard  the  said  Gas- 
con reply,  '  Yes,  I  have  eaten,' — but  does  not 
know  whether  this  was  heard  by  the  said  ser- 
vant of  Rocabruna.  This  is  the  truth  according 
to  the  oath  of  the  deponent ;  and,  being  read  in 
his  presence,  is  declared  by  him  to  be  correct- 
ly recorded.  Deponent  further  states  that  he 
does  not  make  this  declaration  out  of  malice  to 
any  one.  Secrecy  being  enjoined  upon  him,  he 
promised  to  observe  it ;  and  being  unable  to 
write,  I,  the  said  Commissary,  sign  in  his  name. 

The  Licentiate, 
Joan  Torroella,  Commissary. 


In  the  town  of  Semiana,  at  the  same  time, 
before  me  the  said  Licentiate  and  Commissary, 
Joan  Torroella,  appeared  according  to  sum- 
mons and  swore  formally  to  declare  the  truth, 
a  man  calling  himself  Pedro  Aymar  y  Piteu, 
native  and  resident  of  the  above  town  of  Semi- 


18  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

ana,  of  age,  as  he  stated,  fiftysix  years  or  there- 
about. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the 
cause  of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  he  supposed  it  to  be  for  the 
purpose  of  learning  whether  certain  Gascons 
had  eaten  flesh  in  his  house  on  the  day  of  St 
Bartholomew  last,  concerning  which  he  had 
been  informed  by  his  wife  that  the  two  Gascons 
referred  to,  had  stopped  at  his  house,  and  eaten 
meat  on  that  day.  He  furthermore  stated  that 
the  said  Gascons,  whose  names  he  knew  not, 
as  he  had  never  seen  them  before,  being  at  sup- 
per at  his  house  the  evening  previous,  which 
was  Wednesday,  one  of  the  said  Gascons  being 
an  old,  and  the  other  a  young  man,  both  braz- 
iers,— the  old  man  said  to  the  wife  of  the 
deponent  that  he  meant  to  have  some  meat  the 
next  day,  which  was  St  Bartholomew's,  and 
wished  her  to  cook  some  salted  bacon.  Where- 
upon deponent  replied,  they  could  not,  as  it 
was  a  fast.  The  old  man  answered  that  they 
meant  to  eat  notwithstanding,  which  induced 
the  deponent  to  believe  that  he  had  a  license  to 
eat  meat,  or  had  some  infirmity ;  on  which  ac- 
count he  made  no  more  remonstrances,  and  on 
the  evening  of  the  same  day,  returning  home 
from  his  work,  his  wife  informed  him  that  the 
Gascons  had  eaten  meat,  and  that  the  old  man 
had  gone  away,  and  the  young  man  was  taken 
and  carried  to  prison.  This  is  the  truth  ac- 
cording to  the  oath  of  the   witness,  and  being 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  19 

read  in  his  presence  is  declared  by  him  to  be 
correctly  recorded.  Witness  further  states,  lhat 
he  does  not  make  this  declaration  out  of  malice 
to  any  one  ;  and  secrecy  being  enjoined  upon 
him,  he  promised  to  observe  it.  From  his  ina- 
bility to  write,  I,  the  said  Commissary,  sign  in 
his  name.  The  Licentiate, 

Joan  Torroella,  Commissary. 


On  the  seventeenth  day  of  September,  one 
thousand  six  hundred  and  thirtyfive,  at  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  Pedro  Ginesta,  of 
Auvergne,  bishopric  of  St  Flor,  was  by  order 
of  the  Inquisitors  put  in  the  secret  prison  of  the 
Inquisition  and  intrusted  to  the  care  of  P.  Fon- 
tanella,  Alcayde  of  the  said  prison,  who  exam- 
ined the  prisoner  and  allowed  him  nothing  pro- 
hibited by  his  instructions.  The  articles  found 
upon  him,  were,  two  shirts,  a  pair  of  breeches, 
a  purse,  one  dinero  and  three  sueldos,  which 
have  been  given  in  charge  to  the  Camara  de 
Pablo.  Pedro  Fontanella. 


FIRST    AUDIENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of 
Barcelona,  on  the  eighteenth  day  of  Septem- 
ber, one  thousand  six  hundred  and  thirtyfive, 
the  Inquisitor,  Doctor  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta 
being  at  his  morning  audience,  ordered  the 
prisoner  to  be  brought  from  his  cell ;  who,  be- 
ing produced,  was  sworn  to  declare  the  truth 
on  the  present  as  well  as  on  all  other  occasions 


20  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

till  the  decision  of  his  trial.  He  was  also  sworn 
to  observe  secrecy  with  respect  to  everything 
which  he  might  see,  hear,  or  learn,  and  every- 
thing which  should  befall  him. 

Questioned,  what  was  his  name,  age,  occupa- 
tion, birthplace,  residence,  and  the  period  of 
his  arrestation  by  this  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  that  his  name  was  Pedro  Ginesta, 
by  occupation  a  brazier,  native  of  the  village  of 
Orliach,  bishopric  of  St  Flor,  in  the  kingdom  of 
France,  residing  at  Orcan,  in  Catalonia,  having 
exercised  the  trade  of  a  brazier  in  that  country 
more  than  fourteen  years,  of  age  eighty  years 
or  thereabout,  and  that  he  was  arrested  by  a 
Commissary  of  the  Holy  Office,  yesterday,  in 
the  town  of  Salas. 

Questioned,  who  was  his  father,  grandfather, 
paternal  and  maternal,  and  wife  ;  who  were 
his  uncles,  brothers,  and  children  ;  what  were 
their  occupations,  birthplaces,  and  residences. 
[Here  follows  a  long  account  of  the  prisoner's  re- 
latives,  in  answer  to  the  particulars  specif  ed.~\ 

Questioned,  what  was  the  origin  and  descent 
of  his  ancestors  and  collateral  relatives,  and 
whether  any  one  of  them  had  been  punished  or 
put  under  penance  by  the  Holy  Office  of  the 
Inquisition. 

Answered,  that  all  his  relatives  were  old  Ro- 
man  Catholic    Christians,*  and   that  no  one  of 

*  '  The  least  mixture  of  African,  Indian,  Moorish,  or  Jewish  blood 
taints  a  whole  generation.  Nor  does  the  knowledge  of  such  a  fact 
die  away  in  the  course  of  years,  or  become  unnoticed  from  the  ob- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  21 

them  had  ever  been  punished  or  sentenced  by 
the  Holy  Office  up  to  the  present  day. 

Questioned,  if  he  was  a  baptized  and  confirmed 
Catholic,  and  made  it  a  practice  to  attend  mass, 
go  to  confession,  and  receive  the  sacrament  at 
such  times  as  are  prescribed  by  the  Holy  Cath- 
olic Mother  Church  ;  at  what  time  he  last  at- 
tended mass,  and  from  whom  he  received  the 
holy  sacrament. 

Answered,  that  he  was  a  baptized  and  con- 
firmed Christian,  having  by  the  grace  of  God 
been  baptized  in  the  church  of  Santanti,  metro- 
politan of  the  suffragans  of  Caberna  and  other 
places,  and  that  he  knew  himself  to  have  been 
confirmed  by  a  bishop  named  Panlaza  in  the 
city  of  Huerca  in  Arragon,  or  Poroteo,  bishop 
of  that  kingdom,  more  than  forty  years  since, 
in  the  cathedral ;  that  he   remembered  the  fact 

scurity  and  humbleness  of  the  parties.  Not  a  child  in  this  populous 
city  (Seville)  is  ignorant  that  a  family,  who,  beyond  the  memory 
of  man,  have  kept  a  confectioner's  shop  in  a  central  part  of  the  town, 
had  one  of  their  ancestors  punished  by  the  Inquisition  for  a  relapse 
into  Judaism.  I  well  recollect  how,  when  a  boy,  I  often  passed  that 
way,  scarcely  venturing  to  cast  a  side  glance  on  a  pretty  young 
woman,  who  constantly  attended  the  shop,  for  fear,  as  I  said  to  my- 
self, of  shaming  her.  A  person  free  from  tainted  blood  is  denned 
by  law,  '  Christiano  viejo,  limpio  de  toda  mala  raza.''  An  old  Chris- 
tian, free  from  all  bad  race  and  stain.  The  severity  of  this  law,  or 
rather  of  the  public  opinion  enforcing  it,  shuts  out  its  victims  from 
every  employment  in  church  or  state,  and  excludes  them  even  from 
fraternities,  or  religious  associations,  which  are  otherwise  open  to 
persons  of  the  lowest  ranks.  I  verily  believe  that  were  St  Peter  a 
Spaniard,  he  would  either  deny  admittance  into  heaven  to  a  people 
of  tainted  blood,  or  send  them  to  a  retired  corner,  where  they 
might  not  offend  the  eyes  of  the  old  Christians.'' 

Doblado,3  Letters  from  Spain. 


22  RECORDS  -OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

of  the  confirmation  very  well,  being  then  of  full 
age  ;  that  he  hears  mass  every  Sunday  and  holi- 
day, except  when  he  is  travelling  ;  that  he  con- 
fesses and  communicates  at  every  time  fixed  by 
the  Holy  Mother  Church  ;  that  he  has  certifi- 
cates to  this  effect ;  that  he  believes  the  last 
time  he  confessed  was  on  Passion  Week  last,  in 
the  town  of  La  Puente  de  Montania,  to  a  priest 
of  that  church  ;  that  he  does  not  remember  the 
name  of  the  person  from  whose  hands  he  re- 
ceived the  sacrament.  The  prisoner  then  made 
the  sign  of  the  cross,  invoking  the  Father,  Son, 
and  Holy  Ghost,  and  repeated  the  four  prayers 
and  general  confession  correctly  in  Latin,  and 
stated  that  he  knew  nothing  more  of  the  chris- 
tian doctrine. 

Questioned,  if  he  could  write,  or  read,  or  had 
studied  any  science  or  faculty. 

Answered,  that  he  could  neither  write,  nor 
read,  nor  had  he  studied  any  science  or  art. 

Questioned,  if  he  had  ever  left  the  kingdoms 
of  Spain  since  his  first  arrival,  or  had  any  deal- 
ings with  people  of  equivocal  faith. 

Answered,  that  he  had  exercised  his  trade  of 
a  brazier  for  more  than  sixty  years,  in  the  king- 
doms of  Catalonia  and  Arragon,  visiting  at 
times  his  home  in  France,  where  there  are  no 
Lutherans,  nor  any  persons  of  equivocal  faith. 

Questioned,  what  were  the  events  of  his  life. 

Answered,  that  he  was  born,  as  above  stated, 
in  the  village  of  Orliach,  and  remained  with  his 
father  till  twenty  years  of  age  assisting  him  in 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  23 

his  profession  of  a  brazier ;  that  he  had  passed 
his  life  in  France,  Arragon,  and  Catalonia,  his 
father  having  brought  him  while  a  boy  into  this 
country,  where  he  died,  and  left  him,  sixty  years 
since,  in  the  town  of  Erla,  near  Gea,  in  Arra- 
gon, working  all  this  time  in  various  places, 
where  he  became  well  known ;  that  his  wife 
had  never  been  in  Spain  at  any  time. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the 
cause  of  his  imprisonment. 

Answered,  falling  on  his  knees,  weeping, 
and  beating  his  breast,  that  he  had  committed 
an  offence  against  our  Lord  by  eating  bacon  on 
the  eve  of  St  Bartholomew  in  the  village  of  Se- 
miana,  and  that  it  was  true  he  had  been  told  on 
the  day  previous,  by  the  hostess  of  the  house 
where  it  was  done,  that  the  next  day  was  a  fast, 
but  not  remembering  this  intimation,  he  had, 
while  the  hostess  was  gone  out  of  the  house 
to  her  oven,  eaten  of  the  same  in  company  with 
a  certain  youth  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  years  of 
age,  a  native  of  the  bishopric  of  Clermont  in 
France,  who  had  come  to  work  with  him  two 
days  before ;  and  that  while  they  were  eating, 
the  hostess  returned  and  again  reminded  him 
that  it  was  the  fast  of  St  Bartholomew,  and 
they  ought  not  to  eat  it,  upon  which  they  im- 
mediately abstained  from  eating ;  that  they 
were  both  arrested  and  brought  on  the  road  to 
Barcelona  under  guard  of  one  man,  the  youth 
with  his  hands  tied  ;  that  on  arriving  near  a 
wood  he  escaped  notwithstanding  the  exertions 


24  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

made  by  the  guard,  who  raised  the  neighbour- 
hood to  search  for  him  ;  and  if  in  this  he  had  of- 
fended our  Lord,  he  begged  for  pardon  and 
mercy. 

The  prisoner  was  then  informed,  that,  in  this 
Holy  Office,  it  was  not  customary  to  apprehend 
any  person  without  sufficient  information  that 
he  had  said,  done,  or  witnessed  the  commission 
of  something  really  or  apparently  offensive 
against  God  our  Lord,  or  against  his  Holy  Cath- 
olic faith  and  evangelical  law,  taught  and  preach- 
ed by  the  Holy  Mother  Roman  Church,  or 
against  the  just  and  free  exercise  of  the  Holy 
Office  ;  consequently  he  was  to  understand  that 
he  was  imprisoned  on  account  of  some  such  in- 
formation, and  he  was  admonished  on  the  part 
of  God  our  Lord,  and  the  glorious  and  blessed 
Virgin  Mary,  to  recollect  himself  and  confess 
his  offences  without  concealing  anything  relat- 
ing either  to  himself  or  any  other  person,  and 
without  uttering  false  testimony  against  any 
one  ;  by  doing  all  which,  his  trial  should  be  dis- 
patched with  all  brevity,  and  decided  with  that 
mercy  which  is  shown  by  the  Holy  Office  to  all 
those  who  confess  freely;  otherwise,  justice 
should  be  executed. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say, 
and  the  above  being  read  to  him,  he  declared  it 
to  be  the  truth  according  to  the  oath  which  he 
had  sworn,  and  that  he  had  nothing  to  alter  or 
diminish  from  what  is  therein  contained,  and 
with  this  admonition,   to  bethink  himself  well, 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  25 

and  declare  the  truth,  he  was  remanded  to  pris- 
on. Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta. 


SECOND    AUDIENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barce- 
lona, on  the  nineteenth  day  of  September,  one 
thousand  six  hundred  and  thirtyfive,  the  Inquisi- 
tor, Doctor  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta  being  at  his 
morning  audience,  presiding  upon  affairs  of  jus- 
tice, ordered  the  above  Pedro  Ginesta  to  be 
brought  out  of  prison,  which  being  done,  and  the 
prisoner  present,  he  was 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  relating 
to  his  affair  which  he  was  bound  to  divulge,  with 
all  truth,  to  discharge  his  conscience. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

The  prisoner  was  then  admonished  on  the  part 
of  God  our  Lord,  &c.  [The  whole  repeated  as  above.'] 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say  ; 
and  being  admonished  to  bethink  himself  well, 
and  declare  the  truth,  he  was  remanded  to  prison. 

Before  me —  Miguel  Rodriguez. 


THIRD     AUDIENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barce- 
lona, on  the  twentieth  day  of  September,  one 
thousand  six  hundred  and  thirtyfive,  the  Inquisi- 
tor, Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta  being  at  his 
morning  audience,  ordered  the  above  Pedro  Gi- 
nesta to  be  brought  from  his  prison,  which  being 
done,  and  the  prisoner  present,  he  was 


26  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  relating 
to  his  affair  which  he  was  bound  to  divulge,  in  all 
truth,  and  to  discharge  his  conscience. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

The  prisoner  was  then  informed  that  in  the 
audiences  which  had  already  been  given,  he  had 
been  admonished  on  the  part  of  God  our  Lord, 
&c.  [The  whole  repeated  as  before.] 

Answered  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

The  prisoner  was  then  notified  that  the  Pro- 
motor  Fiscal"  of  this  Holy  Office  had  an  accusa- 
tion to  bring  against  him,  before  which  he  would 
do  well  to  declare  the  whole  truth,  as  he  had  al- 
ready been  admonished,  in  which  case,  he  would 
experience  more  fully  the  mercy  which  the  Holy 
Office  ever  extends  to  those  who  confess  freely ; 
otherwise  the  Fiscal  would  attend  and  proceed  to 
the  accusation. 

Straightway  appeared  Doctor  Francisco  Grego- 
rio,  Promoter  Fiscal  of  this  Holy  Office,  and  pre- 
sented the  accusation,  signed  by  himself,  against 
the  said  Pedro  Ginesta,  making  oath  that  it  was 
not  done  out  of  malice ;  which  accusation  was  as 
follows : — 


ACCUSATION. 

I,  Doctor  Francisco  Gregorio,  Fiscal  of  this 
Holy  Office,  appear  before  your  Excellency,  and 
accuse  criminally,  Pedro  Ginesta,  brazier,  a  na- 
tive of  the  village  of  Orliach,  bishopric  of  St  Flor, 

*  Attorney  General. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  27 

in  Ubernia,  in  the  kingdom  of  France,  resident  in 
this  principality,  attached  to  the  secret  prison  of 
the  Inquisition,  and  now  present, — stating  that  the 
said  person,  being  a  baptized  and  confirmed  Chris- 
tian, and  enjoying  the  graces  and  benefits  which 
such  persons  do  and  ought  to  enjoy,  not  having 
the  fear  of  God  before  his  eyes,  but  regardless  of 
his  own  conscience  and  the  justice  administered 
by  your  Excellency,  has  committed  offences  against 
our  Holy  Faith,  by  saying  and  performing  things 
which  savour  of  the  heretic  Luther,  in  the  manner 
following. 

The  said  prisoner  being  in  a  certain  part  of  the 
village  of  Semiana  in  the  bishopric  of  Urgel  on 
the  fast  of  St  Bartholomew  last,  in  company  with 
another  certain  person,  did  cause  to  be  cooked  a 
dish  of  bacon  and  onions  ;  and,  being  reminded  to 
take  heed,  for  it  was  a  fast,  and  such  food  was 
forbidden,  replied  by  ordering  the  meat  to  be 
cooked,  and  in  fact  when  the  said  meat  was  cook- 
ed, did  proceed  to  eat  the  same,  in  company  with 
the  other  person  mentioned,  and  notwithstanding 
he  was  informed  by  another  person  while  eating, 
that  it  was  St  Bartholomew's  day,  and  a  fast,  at 
which  time  it  was  not  allowed  to  eat  such  food, 
the  said  prisoner  continued  to  eat  the  remainder 
of  the  said  bacon. 

Furthermore,  the  said  prisoner  being  of  a  nation 
infected  with  heresy,  it  is  presumed  that  he  has 
on  many  other  occasions  eaten  flesh  on  forbidden 
days,  after  the  manner  of  the  sect  of  Luther,  and 
committed  many  other  offences  against  our  Holy 


28  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Faith,  besides  knowing  that  others  have  commit- 
ted the  same  offences,  and  the  said  prisoner  hav- 
ing been  admonished  by  your  Excellency  to  de- 
clare the  truth,  has  not  done  it.  but  has  perjured 
himself. 

For  which  reasons  I  entreat  your  Excellency 
that  full  evidence  being  given  to  my  accusation,  or 
to  such  a  part  of  the  same  as  shall  suffice  for  the 
ends  of  justice  in  the  decision  of  the  present  case, 
your  Excellency  will  declare  my  accusation  prov- 
ed, and  the  said  Pedro  Ginesta  guilty  of  the  above 
offences,  imposing  upon  him  the  heaviest  punish- 
ments fixed  by  statute  upon  the  said  offences,  and 
ordering  them  to  be  executed  upon  his  person 
and  goods,  as  a  penalty  to  himself  and  an  example 
to  others  ;  and  that  the  prisoner,  if  it  be  found 
necessary,  be  put  to  the  torture,  and  that  the 
same  be  repeated  till  he  confess  the  whole  truth 
both  of  himself  and  others. 

And  I  formally  swrear  that  I  do  not  bring  this  ac- 
cusation out  of  malice,  but  solely  to  accomplish 
the  ends  of  justice,  which  I  now  request  at  your 
hands.  Dr  Francisco  Gregorio. 

This  accusation  having  been  presented  and 
read,  the  said  Pedro  Ginesta  was  formally  sworn 
to  declare  the  truth  in  answer  to  every  interroga- 
tory relating  thereto.  The  accusation  being  read 
over,  article  by  article,  he  answered  as  follows: — 

To  the  head  of  the  accusation,  he  answered 
that  he  was  the  same  Pedro   Ginesta  whom  the 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  29 

Fiscal  accuses,  but  had  never  committed  any  of- 
fence against  our  Holy  Catholic  Faith,  nor  done, 
nor  said  anything  which  pertained  to  the  sect  of 
Luther  or  any  other  heresy. 

To  the  first  article  he  answered,  confessing  that 
he  had  eaten  bacon  and  onions  on  the  said  eve  of 
St  Bartholomew,  and  that  although  it  was  true  he 
had  been  reminded  that  it  was  a  fast,  he  had  for- 
gotten it,  and  on  being  again  told  of  it  while  at 
his  meal  he  immediately  left  off  eating  ;  that  the 
person  who  ate  with  him  was  a  young  man,  son 
to  Borbon  Merchante  ;  that  he  did  not  do  the 
above  act  out  of  disrespect  to  the  Church  or  its 
precepts,  well  knowing  that  it  was  forbidden  to 
eat  flesh  on  such  days,  which  regulation  he  had 
observed  throughout  his  life,  and  remained  in  the 
determination  to  observe,  believing  in  all  the  doc- 
trines taught  by  the  holy  Catholic  Roman  Church. 
Here  the  prisoner  fell  upon  his  knees  and  declared 
that  he  had  offended  through  forgetfulness. 

To  the  second  article  he  answered,  that  he  had 
never  at  any  other  time  committed  the  same  of- 
fence, nor  had  he  concealed  the  truth  as  to  this 
point,  either  respecting  himself  or  his  companion, 
being  an  obedient  son  of  the  Church. 

To  the  conclusion  of  the  accusation,  he  answer- 
ed that  even  if  he  were  put  to  the  torture,  he 
could  not  declare  anything  further,  and  that  he 
had  offended,  not  from  any  bad  intention,  but 
through  forgetfulness,  occasioned  by  his  great 
age. 


30  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

The  above  is  the  truth  accorrlirg  to  the  oath  of 
the  prisoner,  and  being  read  in  his  presence,  is  de- 
clared by  him  to  be  correctly  recorded. 

The  Inquisitor, 
Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta. 
Before  me — 

Miguel  Rodriguez. 

The  Inquisitor  then  ordered  him  a  copy  of  the 
accusation  that  he  might,  within  three  days, 
make  arrangements  for  his  trial  and  defence  by 
conferring  and  agreeing  with  one  of  the  lawyers 
who  are  counsel  for  those  persons  tried  by  the 
Holy  Office,  namely,  Doctor  Magrina,  priest,  and 
Micar  Morato,  giving  the  prisoner  liberty  to  make 
choice  of  either.  The  prisoner  made  choice  of 
Dr  Magrina,  on  which  the  Inquisitor  ordered  him 
to  be  summoned.  The  audience  then  closed,  and 
the  prisoner  being  admonished  was  remanded  to 
prison. 

Before  me —  Miguel  Rodriguez. 


audience  for  communication  of  the  accusation 
and  evidence. 
In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  twentieth  day  of  September,  one 
thousand  six  hundred  and  thirtyfive,  the  Inquisitor, 
Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta  being  at  his  morn- 
ing audience,  ordered  the  above  Pedro  Ginesta  to 
be  brought  from  prison,  which  being  done,  and 
the  prisoner  present,  he  was 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  31 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  which 
he  was  bound  to  declare,  according  to  the  oath 
he  had  sworn. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

The  prisoner  was  then  informed  that  Dr  Fran- 
cisco Magrina,  whom  he  had  selected  for  his  coun- 
sel, was  present,  with  whom  he  might  confer, 
and  make  arrangements  for  his  defence. 

Dr  Francisco  Magrina  was  then  sworn  in  verbo 
sacerdotis,  to  defend  well  and  faithfully  the  said 
Pedro  Ginesta,  to  inform  him  if  his  case  was  not 
on  the  side  of  justice,  to  do  everything  which  a 
good  advocate  is  bound  to  do,  and  to  preserve  se- 
crecy throughout. 

Then  were  produced  and  read,  the  several  con- 
fessions of  the  said  Pedro  Ginesta,  made  from  the 
eighteenth  of  this  month  to  the  present  time,  with 
the  accusation,  and  the  answers  of  the  prisoner. 
These  he  examined,  and  conferred  with  the  pris- 
oner respecting  his  case,  counselling  him,  as  the 
best  defence  which  could  be  made,  to  confess  the 
whole  truth,  and  if  he  had  been  guilty  of  any  of- 
fence, to  beg  for  pardon ;  by  which  means,  he 
might  obtain  mercy. 

The  said  Pedro  Ginesta  replied  that  he  had  de- 
clared the  whole  truth  as  appeared  by  his  confes- 
sions, that  beyond  this  he  denied  everything  con- 
tained in  the  accusation,  and  in  consequence  beg- 
ged to  be  acquitted  and  set  at  liberty. 

The  Inquisitor  then  ordered  a  copy  of  the  above 
to  be  given  to  the  Promotor  Fiscal  of  the  Holy 
Office,  who  declared,   that,  confining  himself  to 


oZ  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

what  he  had  stated  in  his  accusation  and  to  the 
matter  contained  in  the  confession  of  the  prison- 
er, he  requested  that  they  might  proceed  to  the 
proofs.  The  Inquisitor  replied  that  the  cause 
should  be  judged  definitively,  and  the  proofs  on 
both  sides  received  salvo  jure  impertinentium  et 
lion  admittendorum,  according  to  the  style  of  the 
Holy  Office,  and  the  same  was  notified  to  both 
parties. 

The  Promotor  Fiscal  then  declared  that  he  re- 
produced the  testimony  which  had  been  received 
and  registered  against  the  said  Pedro  Ginesta  in 
this  Holy  Office,  which  testimony  he  desired 
might  be  examined  and  ratified  in  form  ;  and  also 
that  all  other  necessary  investigations  might  be 
made  and  the  testimony  published  ;  whereupon 
the  audience  closed,  and  the  prisoner  being  ad- 
monished to  bethink  himself  well,  and  declare 
the  truth,  was  remanded  to  prison. 
Before  me — 

Miguel  Rodriguez. 


AUDIENCE  FOR  THE  PUBLICATION  OF  THE  TESTIMONY. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  sixth  day  of  October,  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  thirtyfive,  the  Inquisitor,  Dr  Do- 
mingo Abbad  y  Huerta,  being  at  his  morning  au- 
dience, ordered  the  above  Pedro  Ginesta  to  be 
brought  from  the  secret  prison,  which  being  done, 
and  the  prisoner  present,  he  was 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  which 
he  was  bound  to  declare  according  to  the  oath  he 
had  sworn. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  33 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

The  prisoner  was  then  informed  that  the  Pro- 
motor  Fiscal  of  the  Holy  Office  had  requested  a 
publication  of  the  testimony  against  him,  before 
which  it  would  be  well  for  him  to  declare  the 
whole  truth,  as  this  would  cause  him  to  experi- 
ence more  benignity  and  mercy. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  to  add  to  his 
former  confessions;  that  it  was  true  that  he  had 
eaten  bacon  on  St  Bartholomew's  eve,  but  had 
done  it  through  ignorance,  not  knowing  it  to  be  a 
fast ;  that  he  begged  pardon  for  his  offence,  hav- 
ing all  the  rest  of  his  life  conducted  in  a  different 
manner. 

Straightway  appeared  the  Promotor  Fiscal  and 
requested  publication  of  the  testimony  against  the 
said  Pedro  Ginesta  according  to  the  style  of  the 
Holy  Office.  The  Inquisitor  ordered  the  publica- 
tion to  be  made,  concealing  the  names  of  the  wit- 
nesses and  other  circumstances  which  might 
cause  their  persons  to  be  known,  according  to  the 
orders  and  style  of  the  Holy  Office,  which  was 
done  in  the  manner  following. 
Publication  of  the  testimony  against  Pedro  Ginesta, 

native  of  the  village  of  St   Quinti,  diocese  of  St 

Flor,  in  the  kingdom  of  France. 

A  certain  witness,  sworn  and  qualified  in  the 
proper  time  and  manner  in  the  town  of  Tremp, 
bishopric  of  Urgel,  on  a  certain  day  of  the  month 
of  August,  in  the  present  year  sixteen  hundred 
and  thirtyfive— declares,  &c.  [Here  follows  the  tes- 
timony of  Joan  Compte  as  given  before.] 
5 


34  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Another  witness  sworn  and  qualified  in  the  pro- 
per time  and  manner  in  the  town  of  Semiana,  &lc. 
[Here  follows  the  testimony  of  Geronima  Aymar.~] 

Another  witness  &c.  [All  the  other  testimony 
repeated.'] 

The  above  testimony  having  been  published,  an 
oath  was  exacted  from  the  prisoner  to  declare  the 
truth  in  answer  to  the  testimony  aforesaid,  article 
by  article,  and  the  same  having  been  read  to  him 
de  verbo  ad  verbum,  he  answered  as  follows  ; — 

To  the  first  article  he  replied  that  it  was  true 
he  had  eaten  the  bacon,  but  had  done  it  through 
ignorance,  having  forgotten  that  it  was  St  Bar- 
tholomew's eve,  as  he  had  already  confessed,  and 
that  on  being  apprised  of  the  same,  he  had  left  off 
eating. 

To  the  second  article  he  answered  that  the  hos- 
tess might  possibly  have  said  what  she  states,  but 
that  he  had  no  recollection  of  it. 

To  the  third  article  he  answered  that  he  re- 
peated his  former  declaration  that  he  was  a  Cath- 
olic Christian,  and  had  he  known  it  to  be  the  fast 
of  St  Bartholomew,  should  not  have  eaten  upon 
any  account. 

To  the  fourth  article  he  answered  by  referring 
to  the  confession  which  he  had  already  made,  and 
declared  that  he  did  not  remember  having  been 
warned  by  any  one. 

To  the  fifth  article  he  answered  by  referring  to 
his  confession,  and  declared  that  beyond  this  he 
denied  everything  sworn  to  by  the  witness. 

The  above  is  the  truth  according  to  the  oath  of 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  35 

the  prisoner,  and  the  same  having  been  read  in 
his  hearing  is  declared  by  him  to  be  faithfully  re- 
corded, Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta. 

Before  me — 

Damian  Fonolleda,  Secly. 

The  Inquisitor  then  ordered  the  prisoner  to  be 
furnished  with  a  copy  of  the  above  publication, 
that  he  might,  with  the  assistance  of  his  counsel, 
make  arrangements  for  his  defence,  whereupon 
the  prisoner  was  admonished,  and  remanded  to 
prison. 


audience  to  communicate  the  publication. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barce- 
lona, on  the  ninth  day  of  October,  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  thirtyfive,  the  Inquisitor,  Dr  Do- 
mingo Abbad  y  Huerta  being  at  his  morning  audi- 
ence, ordered  the  above  Pedro  Ginesta  to  be 
brought  from  prison,  which  being  done,  and  the 
prisoner  present,  he  was 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  which 
he  was  bound  to  declare  in  discharge  of  his  con- 
science, according  to  the  oath  he  had  sworn. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

The  prisoner  was  then  informed  that  Doctor 
Francisco  Magrina,  his  counsel,  was  present,  with 
whom  he  might  communicate  and  take  measures 
for  his  defence.  The  publication  of  the  testimony 
against  the  prisoner,  with  his  answers  to  the  same, 
were  then  read  to  the  said  Dr  Francisco  Magrina, 
who  proceeded  to  confer  with  the  prisoner  about 


36  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

his  defence.  Having  done  this  he  received  from 
the  hands  of  the  prisoner  a  sheet  of  paper,  upon 
which  he  drew  up  articles  of  defence  which  were 
then  read  to  the  prisoner  and  he  declared  that  he 
made  a  formal  presentation  of  the  same.  Here  fol- 
lows the  defence. 

DEFENCE. 

'  Although  Pedro  Ginesta,  a  native  of  France, 
and  by  trade  a  brazier,  has  no  necessity  for  any 
defence  against  the  charges  brought  against  him 
by  the  Promotor  Fiscal  of  this  Holy  Office,  as  may 
be  clearly  seen  from  the  testimony  ;  nevertheless, 
for  greater  security,  and  with  an  express  declara- 
tion that  his  impeachment  of  the  testimony  of  the 
witnesses  against  him,  is  not  occasioned  by  a  desire 
to  injure  them,  but  solely  to  defend  himself,  he 
states  the  following. 

'  1st.  He  confesses  that  he  has  committed  an 
offence,  but  denies  that  he  ought  to  receive  any 
ordinary  or  extraordinary  punishment  for  the  same, 
which  is  the  truth,  because, 

'  2d.  Although  it  be  the  fact  that  he  ate  meat 
on  St  Bartholomew's  eve  last,  yet  it  is  not  the  fact 
that  he  did  it  through  malice,  or  from  the  inten- 
tion to  transgress  the  ordinances  of  the  Church ; 
which  declaration  is  the  truth. 

'  3d.  The  said  Pedro  Ginesta  has,  in  conse- 
quence of  his  occupation,  spent  his  life  in  travel- 
ling from  one  place  to  another,  attending  mass 
where  he  happened  to  be  on  Sundays  and  holi- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  37 

days,  not  being  able  to  give  more  attention  to  the 
duties  of  religion  ;  and  in  consequence  has  been 
ignorant  of  the  fast  days,  by  not  hearing  them  an- 
nounced ;  which  is  the  truth. 

'  4th.  For  this  reason,  and  being  ignorant  that 
a  fast  was  prescribed  on  St  Bartholomew's  day, 
he  declares  he  should  not  have  eaten,  had  he 
known  the  same  ;  which  is  the  truth. 

'  5th.  Although  it  be  true  he  was  informed  that 
he  ought  not  to  eat  flesh  at  that  time,  as  it  was 
St  Bartholomew's  eve,  yet  those  present  suffered 
him  to  eat,  notwithstanding,  and  made  no  remon- 
strances ;  which  is  the  truth. 

'  6th.  The  said  Pedro  Ginesta,  besides  being  a 
person  of  simple  understanding,  is  very  aged,  be- 
ing more  than  eighty  years  old,  at  which  time  the 
memory  is  apt  to  fail,  as  old  age  is  a  species  irifirmi- 
tatis ;  which  is  the  truth. 

'  7th.  The  said  Pedro  Ginesta  did  not  offend 
through  malice,  but  solely  from  ignorance,  quod 
de  jure  excusari  solet,  et  verum. 

'  8th.  The  said  Pedro  Ginesta,  although  a 
Frenchman  by  birth,  is  a  good  Christian,  and,  as 
such,  has  always  punctually  adhered  to  every  ob- 
ligation by  which  a  good  Christian  is  bound  ;  which 
is  the  truth. 

1  9th.  On  the  above  accounts,  the  said  Pedro 
Ginesta  ought  to  be  acquitted  by  your  Excellency, 
and  released  from  the  prison  in  which  he  is  at 
present  confined,  experiencing  mercy  at  your 
hands ;  vel  alias, 


38  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

'  10th.  Ponit  quod  omnia  et  singulos  jure  vero, 
super  quibus  jus  diei  et  justitiam  ministrari  postu- 
lat,  et  verum.  F.  Magrinya. 

'  11th.  The  said  Pedro  Ginesta  offers  the 
above  in  his  defence,  and  concludes  by  asking  for 
mercy.  F.  Magrinya.' 


This  being  presented  to  the  Inquisitor,  was  by 
him  ordered  to  be  put  on  file.  It  was  likewise  or- 
dered that  the  same  be  notified  to  the  Promotor 
Fiscal  of  this  Holy  Office  ;  whereupon  the  audi- 
ence closed,  and  the  prisoner  was  remanded  to 
prison. 

Before  me —  Miguel  Rodriguez. 


SENTENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  sixteenth  day  of  October,  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  thirtyfive,  at  the  morning 
audience,  present,  the  Inquisitor,  Dr  Domingo 
Abbad  y  Huerta  presiding  on  his  own  part,  and 
on  the  part  of  the  Ordinary  of  the  bishopric  of 
Urgel,  and  Dr  Augustin  Fernandez  Lopez,  Vicar 
Genera]  of  the  bishopric  of  Barcelona.  Having 
examined  a  trial  carried  on  in  this  Holy  Office, 
against  Pedro  Ginesta,  a  Frenchman  by  birth,  na- 
tive of  St  Quinti  or  Orliach,  bishopric  of  St  Flor, 
in  Ubernia,  a  resident  in  Catalonia,  in  the  district 
of  Pallas,  arrested  in  the  town  of  Tremp,  and  now 
in  the  secret  prison  of  this  Holy  Office,  ordered, 
that  in  virtue  of  this  act,  the  said  prisoner  be  re- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  39 

prehended,  and  admonished,  and  forthwith  releas- 
ed from  prison. 

Before  me —  Miguel  Rodriguez,  Sec^y. 


In  the  same  audience,  the  said  Pedro  Ginesta 
was  ordered  to  be  brought  from  prison,  which  be- 
ing done,  and  he  present,  the  Inquisitor,  Abbad  y 
Huerta  reprehended  and  admonished  him,  in  con- 
formity to  the  above  sentence.  The  prisoner  re- 
ceived the  correction  with  humility,  and  promised 
amendment ;  which  I,  the  Secretary,  hereby  cer- 
tify. Miguel  Rodriguez. 


Straightway,  in  the  same  audience,  the  prisoner 
was  sworn  to  declare  the  truth ;  and  he  was 

Questioned,  &c. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say, 
either  with  respect  to  himself  or  others,  in  dis- 
charge of  his  conscience,  nor  anything  relating  to 
what  had  been  said  or  done  in  the  prison  of  this 
Holy  Office  against  the  honor,  dignity,  or  secrets 
of  the  same  or  its  ministers,  or  with  respect  to  the 
custody  of  the  prisoners  therein  contained  ;  that 
he  had  not  witnessed  any  communication  carried 
on  among  them,  or  knew  that  any  one  had  spoken 
to  another ;  that  he  has  no  communication  from 
them  to  carry  to  any  one,  and  that  the  Alcayde 
and  Steward  have  faithfully  discharged  their  du- 
ties. 

He  was  then  commanded,  by  virtue  of  the  oath 
he  had  sworn,  and  under  penalty  of  complete  ex- 
communication, to  observe  perfect  secrecy  with 


40  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

respect  to  everything  which  had  befallen  him  re- 
lating to  his  trial,  and  with  respect  to  all  which 
he  had  seen,  heard,  or  learned  in  any  manner  while 
in  prison,  and  not  to  reveal  the  same  to  any  per- 
son, under  any  shape  whatever ;  all  which  he 
promised  to  observe,  and  being  unable  to  write, 
I,  the  Inquisitor,  Abbad  y  Huerta,  sign  in  his 
name  ;  whereupon  he  was  dimissed. 

Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta. 
Before  me —  Miguel  Rodriguez. 


On  the  19th  day  of  the  same  month,  the  Sec- 
retary Rodriguez  dispatched  a  letter  to  the  Com- 
missary of  Salas  in  the  name  of  the  Tribunal,  or 
dering  him  to  restore  to  the  prisoner,  on  account 
of  his  poverty,  the  instruments  of  his  trade  and 
his  other  property.  The  letter  was  sent  by  the 
prisoner.  Rodriguez* 


41 


TRIAL  OF  JUAN  DURAN, 

FOR      BLASPHEMY     AND     WITCHCRAFT. 

I,  the  Fiscal  of  this  Holy  Office,  state  that  from 
information  received,  it  is  made  manifest  that  Ju- 
an Duran,  blacksmith,  a  native  of  Manresa,  and  a 
resident  of  Villaredonda,  in  the  bishopric  of  Bar- 
celona, has  committed  offences  against  our  holy 
faith ;  on  which  account,  I  purpose  to  bring  a  for- 
mal accusation  against  him.  For  which  reasons 
I  request  your  Excellency  to  order  the  said  per- 
son to  be  arrested  and  confined  in  the  secret  pris- 
on of  this  Inquisition,  for  the  purpose  of  accom- 
plishing fully  the  ends  of  justice. 

Dr  Francisco  Gregorio. 


In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barce- 
lona, on  the  tenth  day  of  December,  one  thou- 
sand, six  hundred  and  thirtytwo,  the  Inquisitors, 
Dr  Bernardo  Luis  Cotoner  and  Dr  Domingo  Abbad 
y  Huerta,  being  at  their  evening  audience, — hav- 
ing examined  the  testification  against  Juan  Duran, 
blacksmith,  a  resident  of  Villaredonda  in  the  bish- 
opric of  Barcelona  ;  ordered  that  the  above  person 
be  arrested  and  confined  in  the  secret  prison  of 
this  Inquisition,  and  that  his  trial  be  instituted  in 
form. 

Before  me —  Miguel  Rodriguez. 


TO    FRANCISCO    COLL,    COMMISSARY. 

On  the  receipt  of  this,  you  will  proceed  to  take 
prisoner,  on  the  part  of  this  Holy  Office,  Juan  Du- 
6 


42  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

ran,  blacksmith,  a  resident  of  this  town,  for  some 
days  past,  and  formerly  of  Villaredonda.  He  is  a 
tall,  thin  faced,  person ;  pale,  with  a  chestnut 
beard,  and  meanly  dressed  ;  having  secured  him, 
you  will  dispatch  him,  under  good  attendance,  to 
this  Holy  Office,  by  the  hands  of  the  Familiars,  in 
such  a  manner  that  he  cannot  escape,  taking 
measures  in  all  the  places  through  which  he  may 
pass,  to  let  it  be  known  he  is  apprehended  by  this 
Inquisition. 

Also,  if  occasion  should  oner,  you  will  sieze  so 
much  of  the  prisoner's  property,  if  it  be  found  in 
that  town,  as  shall  amount  to  eight  ducats,  for  the 
expense  of  his  maintenance,  which  you  will  trans- 
mit by  those  who  have  him  in  custody. 

This  letter  is  to  be  returned,  with  a  statement 
of  all  that  may  be  done  agreeably  to  the  above  or- 
ders, with  respect  to  which  we  trust  in  the  guid- 
ance of  our  Lord. 

Barcelona,  December  14th.  1632. 

The  prisoner  being  taken,  you  will  inspect  his 
person  and  his  lodgings,  in  order  to  secure  a  book, 
about  the  size  of  the  hand,  in  which,  it  is  confi- 
dently believed,  there  are  certain  prayers  and  su- 
perstitious matters.  This  book  you  will  despatch 
to  us. 

Dr  Bernardo  Luis  Cotoner, 
Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta. 
By  order  of  this  Holy  Office — 

Miguel  Rodriguez,  Sec'y. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  43 

TO     THE     MOST     ILLUSTRIOUS      INQUISITORS     OF     THE 
PRINCIPALITY    OF    CATALONIA. 

I  received  the  orders  of  your  Excellencies  and 
put  them  in  execution.  I  learned  that  Juan  Du- 
ran  had  left  this  town  of  Villaredonda  a  month 
since,  and  that  he  labored  at  times  in  repairing 
the  bridge  of  Armentera,  in  the  archbishopric  of 
Tarragona,  whither  I  sent  after  him  and  had  him 
siezed  by  a  Familiar  of  that  place.  I  have  exam- 
ined him,  and  found  his  book  and  papers  which, 
you  will  receive  along  with  this.  No  more  cash 
was  found  upon  him  than  three  reales,  which  I 
also  transmit  by  the  Familiar  who  has  him  in  cus- 
tody. This  is  all  which  could  be  obtained  of  his 
property.  The  prisoner  I  despatch  to  your  Ex- 
cellencies according  to  order,  and  remain  at  the 
service  of  your  Excellencies,  to  whom  may  our 
Lord  grant  many  happy  years. 

Villaredonda,  Dec.  24th,  1632. 

Francisco  Coll,  Rector  of  Villaredonda, 

and  Commissary  of  the  Holy  Office. 


In  the  town  of  Valles  Campo,  in  the  archbishop- 
ric of  Tarragona,  on  Saturday,  the  twentyseventh 
day  of  November,  one  thousand  six  hundred  and 
thirtytwo,  at  evening,  appeared,  without  summons, 
before  Dr  Pablo  Pasqual  Marquez,  Presbyter  Com- 
missary of  the  Holy  Office,  and  swore  to  declare 
the  truth,  a  person  calling  himself  Pedro  Oriola, 
apothecary,  resident  of  the  town  of  Valles,  of  age, 
as  he  stated,  fortyfour  years,  or  thereabout ;  which 


44  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

person,  in  discharge  of  his  conscience,  declared 
and  denounced  the  following. 

That  about  fifteen  days  since,  there  visited  at 
his  house,  Juan  Bafibrell,  and  one  Marcal,  a  gar- 
dener, inhabitants  of  the  said  town  ;  and  that 
among  other  things  they  told  him  they  had  heard 
a  certain  person  (whose  name  and  birth  place 
the  deponent  is  ignorant  of,  but  knows  him  by 
sight,  and  that  he  is  a  blacksmith,  working  with 
Pablo  Llaurador  of  this  town,  and  came  hither  in 
company  with  a  Frenchman,  who  officiated  as  a 
physician,  and  a  short  time  since  had  been  im- 
prisoned by  the  Holy  Office),  say,  that  he  possess- 
ed a  book,  which,  if  it  were  thrown  into  a  fire, 
along  with  a  crucifix,  would  remain  unhurt,  while 
the  crucifix  would  be  consumed. 

The  above  is  the  truth,  according  to  the  oath 
of  the  deponent,  and  being  read  in  his  hearing,  is 
declared  by  him  to  be  correctly  recorded.  Depo- 
nent further  states  that  he  does  not  make  this  de- 
claration out  of  malice  to  any  one,  but  solely  to 
discharge  his  conscience,  and  declares  that  he 
will  keep  the  whole  secret. 

Signed,  Pero  Orrola. 

Before  me — 

Geronymo  Joan  Rossellon, 
Presbyter  Notary  of  the  Holy  Office. 


In  the  town  of  Valles,  on  Sunday,  the  twenty- 
eighth  day  of  the  said  month  and  year,  in  the  even- 
ing, before  the  said  Commissary,  appeared,  ac- 
cording  to  summons,  and  made  oath  to  declare 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  45 

the  truth,  Juan  Bafforell,  a  native  and  inhabitant 
of  the  town  of  Valles,  of  age,  as  he  stated,  forty- 
eight  years  or  thereabout. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the 
cause  of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  he  neither  knew  nor  conjec- 
tured. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew,  or  had  heard  that  any 
person  had  said  or  done  anything,  which  was,  or 
appeared  to  be  contrary  to  the  Holy  Catholic 
Faith  and  Evangelical  Law  preached  and  taught  by 
the  Holy  Mother  Catholic  Roman  Church,  or 
against  the  proper  and  free  jurisdiction  of  the 
Holy  Office. 

Answered,  that  he  knew  nothing  of  the  matter, 
but  the  following.  About  fifteen  days  since,  he 
was  at  the  house  of  Mosen  Pedro  Oriola,  apothe- 
cary, in  company  with  the  said  Oriola,  Bernardo 
Serda,  innkeeper,  and  Salvador  Marcal,  gardener, 
and  in  the  course  of  the  conversation  the  said 
Marcal  observed  that  a  certain  man,  whom  the 
deponent  knew  by  sight,  but  not  his  .name,  or 
where  he  belongs,  a  blacksmith,  working  with 
Pablo  Llaurador,  of  this  town,  had  said,  in  his 
presence,  in  the  tavern  of  the  abovementioned 
Bernardo  Serda,  that  he  possessed  a  book  or 
books  of  such  quality  and  power,  that  if  the  said 
book  or  books  were  thrown  into  a  fire  along  with 
an  image  of  Christ  crucified,  the  Christ  would  be 
burnt,  and  not  the  book.  Further  the  deponent 
knoweth  not. 


46  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

The  above  is  the  truth  according  to  the  oath  of 
the  deponent ;  and  being  read  in  his  presence,  is 
declared  by  him  to  be  correctly  recorded.  Depo- 
nent further  states  that  he  has  not  made  this  de- 
claration out  of  malice,  but  solely  to  unburthen  his 
conscience ;  and,  moreover,  promises  secrecy ; 
being  unable  to  write,  I,  the  said  Commissary  sign 
in  his  name. 

Dr  Pablo  Pasqual  Marquez,  Commissary. 
Before  me — 

Geronymo  Joan  Rossellon, 
Presbyter  Notary  of  the  Holy  Office. 


In  the  town  of  Valles,  on  Tuesday  the  thirtieth 
of  the  same  month  and  year,  before  the  said 
Commissary,  appeared  according  to  summons, 
and  swore  formally  to  declare  the  truth,  a  person 
calling  himself  Bernardo  Serda,  innkeeper,  a  na- 
tive and  inhabitant  of  the  said  town  of  Valles,  of 
age,  as  he  stated,  twentyfour  years  or  therea- 
bout. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the 
cause  of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  he  supposed  it  to  be  for  the  pur- 
pose of  ascertaining  the  substance  of  what  he  had 
stated  on  several  occasions  ;  in  relation  to  which, 
the  facts  were,  that  about  fifteen  or  thirty  days 
since  on  returning  to  his  house,  he  was  informed 
by  his  wife  and  another  woman  belonging  to 
Vique,  who  lodged  at  his  house,  and  who  went 
about  the  country  curing  diseases,  that  they  had 
heard  a  certain   stranger,  (a  blacksmith,  working 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  47 

with  Pablo  Llaurador,  but  whose  name  or  birth- 
place they  did  not  know  although  they  knew  him 
by  sight),  declare,  that  he  was  a  doctor  who  cured 
all  disorders,  that  he  was  the  God  of  the  land,  and 
that  he  had  a  book,  which,  being  put  into  the  fire 
along  with  a  crucifix,  would  remain  unhurt,  while 
the  crucifix  would  be  consumed.  The  above  was 
heard  by  the  women,  but  not  by  the  deponent. 
The  said  person  also  stated  that  he  was  circum- 
cised as  Jesus  Christ  was,  which  being  heard  of 
by  the  deponent  he  was  greatly  shocked,  and  de- 
clared that  had  it  been  uttered  in  his  hearing,  he 
would  have  cudgelled  him  out  of  doors. 

The  above  is  the  truth  according  to  the  oath 
of  the  deponent,  and  being  read  to  him  he  de- 
clares it  to  be  correctly  recorded.  He  further 
states  that  he  does  not  make  this  declaration  out 
of  malice,  and  promises  to  observe  secrecy.  Not 
being  able  to  write,  I,  the  said  Commissary,  sign 
in  his  name. 

Dr  Pablo  Pasqual  Marquez,  Commissary. 

Before  me — 

Geronymo  Joan  Rossellon,  Presbyter  Notfy. 


In  the  town  of  Valles,  on  Thursday,  the  second 
day  of  December,  one  thousand  six  hundred  and 
thirty  two,  in  the  afternoon,  before  the  said  Com- 
missary, appeared  according  to  summons,  and 
swore  formally  to  declare  the  truth,  a  person  call- 
ing himself  Pablo  Llaurador,  blacksmith,  an  inhab- 
itant of  the  town  of  Valles,  of  age,  as  he  stated, 
fiftyfive  years  or  thereabout. 


48  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Questioned,   if  he   knew  or  conjectured    the 
cause  of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  he  supposed  it  to  be  for  the  pur- 
pose of  investigating  the  following  matter.  There 
was  a  person  living  with  him<who  assisted  him  in 
his  trade.  This  person  called  himself  Juan  Duran, 
and  said  he  was  a  native  of  Manresa.  The  said 
person  declared  a  few  days  before  the  feast  of 
All  Saints,  in  the  presence  of  the  deponent,  Pablo 
Vicens,  and  others  whose  names  were  forgotten, 
that  he  had  a  book  containing  a  prayer  of  such 
efficacy,  that,  if  it  were  put  into  a  fire  along  with 
a  crucifix,  this  last  would  be  consumed  before  the 
book,  which  words  being  uttered  with  much  earn- 
estness by  him,  deponent  and  the  others  repre- 
hended him,  and  advised  him  to  abstain  from  such 
speeches,  as  they  were  scandalous,  and  should  they 
come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Inquisition,  would 
bring  some  punishment  upon  him.  The  above 
person  repeated  his  assertions  several  times,  but 
at  length  desisted  and  appeared  somewhat  alarm- 
ed at  the  rebukes  they  gave  him,  turning  pale.  At 
other  times  this  person  had  declared  to  the  depo- 
nent that  he  was  very  skilful  in  curing  disorders, 
and  that  the  Holy  Virgin  del  Rosario,  had  twice 
appeared  to  him,  giving  him  power  to  cure  all 
diseases,  and  bestowed  upon  him  her  benediction, 
all  which  deponent  laughed  at,  and  ascribed  to  the 
speaker's  want  of  understanding ;  but  on  hearing 
the  assertion  respecting  the  book,  he  became  of- 
fended, and  dismissed  him  from  his  house.  Whith- 
er he  went    on    his    departure    deponent   did  not 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  49 

know,  only  that  he  stated  his  intention  soon  to 
return.  The  book  above  mentioned  he  had  shown 
to  the  deponent  many  times.  It  was  a  small  thing, 
about  the  size  of  the  hand,  but  thick,  and  was 
read  by  the  possessor  in  great  secrecy,  as  if  he 
were  at  prayer.  These,  and  other  things,  it  was 
said,  were  known  to  Jayme  Carbonell,  a  young 
man,  son  to  the  widow  Carbonell,  who  keeps  an  inn. 
The  person  in  question  was  a  tall,  thin,  pale  faced 
man,  with  a  chestnut  beard,  and  meanly  dressed. 
The  above  is  the  truth  according  to  the  oath 
of  the  deponent ;  and  being  read  in  his  presence, 
is  declared  by  him  to  be  correctly  recorded.  He 
further  states  that  he  does  not  make  this  decla- 
ration out  of  malice,  and  promises  to  observe  se- 
crecy. Not  being  able  to  write,  I,  the  said  Com- 
missary, sign  in  his  name. 

Dr  Pablo  Pasqual  Marque z,  Commissary. 
Before  me — 

Geronymo  Juan  Rossellon,  Presbyter  Notfy. 


In  the  town  of  Valles,  on  the  same  day,  month, 
and  year,  before  the  said  commissary,  appeared 
according  to  summons,  and  swore  formally  to  de- 
clare the  truth,  a  person  calling  herself  Esperanza 
Serdana,  wife  of  Bernardo  Serdana,  innkeeper,  an 
inhabitant  of  the  town  of  Valles,  of  age,  as  she 
stated,  thirty  years  or  thereabout. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  or  conjectured  the 
cause  of  her  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  she  neither  knew  or  conjec- 
tured. 

7 


50  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  or  had  heard  that  any 
person  had  said  or  done  any  thing  which  was,  or 
appeared  to  be,  contrary  to  the  Holy  Catholic 
Faith  and  Evangelical  Doctrine  taught  and 
preached  by  the  Holy  Mother  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  or  against  the  proper  and  free  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  that  all  she  knew  relating  to  such 
matter  was  the  following.  About  six  weeks  since, 
while  she  was  waiting  upon  the  guests  in  her 
tavern,  and  had  just  gone  out  of  the  kitchen  into 
the  room  where  the  guests  were,  she  observed 
them  crossing  themselves  and  expressing  great 
wonder,  crying  'Jesu ! '  'Jesu ! '  Upon  which  she  de- 
manded what  was  the  matter,  and  they  told  her, 
(she  could  not  tell  which  of  them,  as  there  were 
so  many  present)  that  a  man,  then  in  the  room, 
whose  name  she  did  not  know,  but  only  that  he 
was  a  blacksmith  and  one  she  had  never  seen  be- 
fore, had  said  he  had  a  book,  which,  thrown  into 
a  naming  fire  along  with  a  crucifix,  would  be  pre- 
served rather  than  this  last,  which  expressions 
being  heard  by  the  deponent,  she  did  not  fail  to 
express  her  astonishment,  by  crying 'Jesu! '  and 
then  went  out  of  the  room.  The  persons  present 
also  told  her  that  the  above  person  had  said  he 
was  circumcised  and  had  shed  his  blood  as  well 
as  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 

The  above  is  the  truth,  according  to  the  oath  of 
the  deponent,  and  being  read  in  her  presence,  is 
declared  by  her  to  be  correctly  recorded.  She 
further  states  that  she  does  not  make  this  dcclara- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  51 

lion  out  of  malice,  and  promises  secrecy.  Being 
unable  to  write,  I,  the  said  Commissary,  sign  in 
her  name. 

Dr  Pablo  Pasqual  Marquez,  Commissary. 
Before  me — 

Geronymo  Juan  Rossellon,  Presbyter  NoVy. 


In  the  town  of  Valles,  on  Saturday,  the  fourth 
day  of  December,  one  thousand  six  hundred  and 
thirtytwo,  in  the  afternoon,  before  the  said  Com- 
missary, appeared  according  to  summons,  and 
swore  to  declare  the  truth,  a  person  calling  him- 
self Pablo  Vicens,  peasant,  a  native  and  inhabi- 
tant of  the  said  town,  of  age,  as  he  stated,  thirty 
years  or  thereabout. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the 
cause  of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  he  supposed  it  to  be  for  the 
purpose  of  making  inquiry  about  the  following 
matter.  About  fifteen  days  before  the  feast  of  All 
Saints,  he  was  informed  by  Bernardo  Serda,  inn- 
keeper, an  inhabitant  of  this  town,  that  a  man 
working  with  Pablo  Llaurador,  blacksmith  of  this 
town,  had  said  before  his  wife  and  the  guests  in 
the  inn,  that  he  had  in  a  certain  book,  a  prayer  of 
such  efficacy  that,  were  the  book  thrown  into  a 
blazing  fire,  along  with  a  crucifix,  the  book  would 
be  preserved  and  the  crucifix  burnt ;  at  which  the 
deponent  was  much  shocked,  and  went  home. 
About  six  or  eight  days  after  this,  the  deponent 
went  to  the  house  of  Pablo  Llaurador,  and  found 
there  the  man  abovementioned,  whom  he  believes 
they  called  Juan  Duran.     Deponent  spoke  to  this 


52  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

person,    asking   him  what  he   meant    by   making 
such    a   speech   as    the  above,   and  advised   him 
to  take  care  what  he  said,  lest  he   got  punished 
for  it.     The  said  Juan  Duran   answered,  that  he 
had  made  the  above  assertion,  and  would  repeat 
it,  which  he  did.     The  deponent  told  him  he  had 
been  informed  by  Bernardo  Serda  of  his   speech 
about  the  book,  and  other  assertions  of  his;  name- 
ly, that  the  Holy  Virgin   del  Rosario  had  appear- 
ed twice  to  him,  and  declared  that  he   possessed 
the  power  to  cure   all   diseases,  giving  him  her 
benediction ;  for  all  which  the   deponent  repre- 
hended him  in  such  a  manner,  that  they  had  nearly 
come  to  blows,  he  having  seized   a  blacksmith's 
sledge  for  the  purpose  of  throwing  at  the  depo- 
nent, but  desisted,  as  every  one  present  exclaimed 
against  him.    Deponent  was  presently  called  away, 
and  left  the  house,  and  a  day  or  two  after,  on  in- 
quiring for  the  said  person,  of  Pablo  Llaurador, 
was  informed  that  he  had  left  him  the  same  day. 
Deponent  thinks  he  has  since  seen  him  at  Villa- 
redonda,  where  he  believes  he  may  be  found  at 
present. 

The  above  is  the  truth,  according  to  the  oath  of 
the  deponent ;  and  being  read  in  his  presence,  is 
declared  by  him  to  be  correctly  recorded.  He  fur- 
ther states  that  he  has  not  made  this  declaration 
out  of  malice,  and  promises  secrecy.  Not  being 
able  to  write,  I,  the  said  Commissary  sign  in  his 
name. 

Dr  Pablo  Pasqual  Marquez,  Commissary. 
Before  me — 

Geronymo  Rossellon,  Presbyter  Nofy. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  53 

In  the  town  of  Valles,  on  Sunday,  the  fifth  of 
December,  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  thirty- 
two,  before  the  said  Commissary  appeared  and 
swore  to  declare  the  truth,  a  person  calling  him- 
self Jayme  Carbonell,  native  and  inhabitant  of  the 
town  of  Valles,  of  age,  as  he  stated,  sixteen  years 
or  thereabout. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the  cause 
of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  he  neither  knew  nor  conjec- 
tured. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  had  heard  that  any 
person  had  said  or  done  anything  which  was,  or 
appeared  to  be  contrary  to  the  Holy  Catholic 
Faith  and  Evangelical  Doctrine  taught  and  pro- 
fessed by  our  Holy  Mother  Roman  church,  or 
against  the  proper  and  free  jurisdiction  of  the 
Holy  Office. 

Answered,  that  all  he  knew  respecting  this  mat- 
ter, was  the  following.  About  six  weeks  since,  he 
met  at  his  home,  a  man  whom  they  called  Juan, 
(his  other  name  he  did  not  know)  and  being  in 
conversation  with  him,  alone,  by  the  fireside,  the 
said  person  told  him  he  had  a  book  worth  fifty 
ducats;  that  he  knew  how  to  cure  all  diseases 
simply  by  looking  at  the  book,  and  that  by  the 
help  of  it  he  could  even  restore  a  dead  person  to 
life  ;  that  if  people  knew  his  great  powers  he 
should  get  to  be  very  rich,  and  that  he  had  been 
circumcised  with  wounds  and  blood  like  Jesus 
Christ ;  at  all  which  the  deponent  laughed,  and 
said   to  himself,    '  No  doubt  this  man  is  crazy.' 


54  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

The  person  referred  to,  worked  at  a  blacksmith's 
trade  with  Pablo  Llaurador,  and  slept  at  the  tavern 
of  the  deponent's  mother,  while  he  was  in  town. 

The  deponent  was  then  informed  that  besides 
what  had  already  been  related,  this  tribunal  had 
received  intimation  that  the  said  Juan  had  stated 
he  had  a  book,  which,  being  cast  into  a  fire  along 
with  a  crucifix,  would  remain  unhurt,  while  the 
crucifix  would  be  consumed ;  and  that  the  Holy 
Virgin  del  Rosario  had  twice  appeared  to  him, 
giving  him  her  benediction  and  granting  him  the 
power  to  cure  all  diseases.  He  was  admonished  to 
bethink  himself,  and  declare  the  whole  truth. 

Answered,  that  he  never  heard  him  utter  such 
a  thing,  and  knew  of  nothing  more  which  the 
above  person  had  said. 

This  is  the  truth  according  to  the  oath  of  the 
deponent,  and  being  read  in  his  presence,  is  de- 
clared by  him  to  be  correctly  recorded.  He 
further  states  that  he  does  not  make  this  declara- 
tion out  of  malice,  and  promises  secrecy. 

Signed —  Jaume  Carbonell  Fadri. 

Before  me — 
Geronymo  Juan  Rossellon,  Presbyter  Notfy. 


RATIFICATION    OF    THE    PRECEDING    TESTIMONY. 

In  the  town  of  Valles  Campo,  archbishopric  of 
Tarragona,  on  Friday,  the  twentyfirst  day  of  Janu- 
ary, one  thousand  six  hundred  and  thirtythree, 
in  the  afternoon,  before  Dr  Pablo  Pasqual  Mar- 
quez,  Presbyter  Commissary  of  the  Holy  Of- 
fice, in  the  said  town  of  Valles,  appeared  Pedro 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION,  55 

Oriola,  apothecary,  an  inhabitant  of  the  said 
town,  of  age,  as  he  stated,  forty  years  or  there- 
about, and  swore  to  declare  the  truth,  in  presence 
of  the  honest  and  religious  persons,  the  Reverend 
Jaume  Busquers  and  Pablo  Fonolleda,  Presbyter 
Benificiaries  in  the  parochial  church  of  the  said 
town  ;  which  persons  swore  to  observe  secrecy. 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  having  gone  be- 
fore any  justice,  and  given  his  deposition  against 
any  person  concerning  religious  matters. 

Answered,  that  he  remembered  having  deposed 
before  the  said  Dr  Pablo  Pasqual  Marquez,  Com- 
missary of  the  Holy  Office,  against  a  certain 
stranger,  accompanied  by  a  French  doctor  who 
had  been  imprisoned  by  the  Holy  Office.  The 
substance  of  this  deposition  he  repeated,  and  re- 
quested it  to  be  read. 

He  was  then  informed  that  the  Promotor  Fis- 
cal of  the  Holy  Office  presented  him  as  a  witness 
in  an  action  which  he  had  commenced  against 
the  above  person,  whose  name  it  was  ascertained 
was  Juan  Duran.  He  was  ordered  to  give  atten- 
tion while  his  deposition  was  read,  and  if  he  found 
anything  to  alter  or  add,  to  do  it  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  declare  the  whole  truth,  for  his  present 
declaration  might  be  of  service  to  the  said  Juan 
Duran.  The  deposition  was  then  read  de  verbo  ad 
verbum,  which  the  said  Pedro  Oriola  having  heard 
and  understood,  he  declared  it  to  be  his  testimony, 
and  that  it  was  correctly  recorded  ;  that  he  had 
nothing  to  add  or  amend,  but  was  willing  to  re- 
peat the  whole  anew.     He  was  again,  under  oath, 


56  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

enjoined  secrecy,  which  he  promised.     The  whole 
I  sign  for  him. 

Pedro  Oriola,  Apothecary. 
Before  me — 

Geronymo  Juan  Rossellon,  Presbyter  Notary 

of  the  Holy  Office. 
[Here  follows,  in  the  original,  the  ratification  in 
the  same  manner  of  all  the  other  testimony.] 


In  the  town  of  Valles,  on  the  day,  month,  and 
year  above  specified,  before  the  said  Commissary, 
appeared,  according  to  summons,  and  swore  for- 
mally to  declare  the  truth,  a  person  calling  him- 
self Juan  Llaurador,  blacksmith,  an  inhabitant  of 
the  said  town,  of  age,  as  he  stated,  twentyone 
years,  or  thereabout. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the  cause 
of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  he  neither  knew  nor  conjec- 
tured. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  had  heard  that  any 
person  had  said  aught  which  was,  or  appeared  to 
be  contrary  to  our  holy  Catholic  Faith,  and  Evan- 
gelical Doctrine  professed  and  taught  by  the  holy 
Mother  Roman  Catholic  Church,  or  against  the 
proper  and  free  jurisdiction  of  the  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  that  on  a  certain  day,  shortly  before 
the  feast  of  All  Saints,  Pablo  Vicens  came  to  his 
house,  where  his  father,  Pablo  Llaurador,  himself, 
and  an  apprentice  were  at  work,  with  another 
person,  whose  name  deponent  did  not  know,  but 
noticed  that  he  spoke  hardly  a  word.     These  per- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  57 

sons  being  together,  the  said  Pablo  Vicens  observ- 
ed that  he  was  astonished  and  grieved  that  there 
existed  a  man  who  could  say  he  had  a  book,  which, 
being  thrown  into  a  fire  with  an  image  of  Christ, 
the  book  would  be  saved,  and  the  Christ  burnt. 
Upon  which  he  was  answered  by  the  person  above- 
mentioned,  who  called  himself  Juan  Duran,  and 
was  a  native  of  the  city  of  Manresa,  that  he  was 
the  man  whom  he  meant,  but  that  his  assertion 
was  only  that  the  Christ  would  be  consumed  be- 
fore the  prayer  contained  in  the  book,  if  the  Christ 
were  not  consecrated.  At  this  they  all  reprimand- 
ed him,  and  declared  that  a  simple  representation 
of  Christ  crucified  was  more  powerful  than  his 
book  or  prayer.  The  said  Juan  Duran,  being  thus 
contradicted  and  reproved  by  every  one,  was  silent, 
and  left  the  place.  The  deponent  also  heard  the 
said  Juan  Duran  say,  in  conversation,  that  he 
knew  more  than  the  doctors  ;  that  the  Virgin,  Our 
Lady  del  Rosario  had  appeared  to  him  and  given 
him  her  benediction,  and  that  by  her  assistance 
he  could  cure  better  than  the  doctors,  and  do  any- 
thing better  than  other  persons.  The  deponent 
also  heard  Jayme  Carbonell  say,  thai  Juan  Duran 
had  declared,  in  his  presence,  that  he  was  next  to 
God.  He  has  also  heard  Juan  Duran  read  or  re- 
cite out  of  a  little  book,  as  large  as  the  hand,  at 
which  all  the  family  laughed.  The  said  book  the 
deponent  has  seen. 

The  above  is  the   truth,  according  to  the  oath 
of  the  deponent,  and   being  read  in  his  presence, 
is  declared  by  him  to  be  faithfully  recorded.     He 
8 


58  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

further  states  that  he  does  not  make  this  declara- 
tion out  of  malice,  and  promises  secrecy.  Being 
unable  to  write,  I,  the  said  Commissary,  sign  in 
his  name. 

Dr  Pablo  Pasqual  Marquez,  Commissary, 
Before  me — 

Geronymo  Juan  Rossellon,  Presbyter  Notfy 

of  the  Holy  Office. 

CALIFICACION.* 

A  certain  person,  native  of  this  principality,  has 
stated,  in  conversation,  two  or  three  times,  that 
he  possessed  a  book  containing  a  prayer  of  such 
efficacy,  that  if  the  book  were  thrown  into  a  fire 
along  with  a  crucifix,  this  last  would  be  consumed 
before  the  book  ;  which  assertion  being  repeated 
by  him  with  great  earnestness,  he  was  reproved 
for  it,  and  told  among  other  things,  that  if  the  In- 
quisition knew  it,  he  would  be  punished,  which 
silenced  him  after  some  time.  The  abovemen- 
tioned  book  he  exhibited  several  times. 

2d.  The  same  person  declared  on  another  oc- 
casion, that  he  was  very  skilful  in  curing  disorders; 
that  the  Holy  Virgin  del  Rosario  had  appeared 
to  him  and  empowered  him  to  heal  diseases,  and 
given  him  her  benediction. 

3d.  The  same  person  on  another  occasion  de- 
clared that  he  had  a  book  which  he  would  not  sell 


*  Calificacion  or  qualification,  a  judgment  pronounced  upon  the 
character  and  tendency  of  any  actions  or  speeches  denounced  before 
the  Inquisition.  This  was  done  by  officers  holding  a  special  commis- 
sion for  that  purpose  called  Calificadores. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION  59 

for  fifty  ducats,  as  by  merely  looking  at  it  he 
could  cure  any  disease,  and  even  restore  a  dead 
person  to  life  ;  that  if  people  knew  his  great  pow- 
ers, he  should  grow  very  rich  ;  and  that  he  was  cir- 
cumcised with  wounds  and  blood  like  Jesus  Christ. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  tenth  day  of  December,  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  thirtytwo,  being  present  at 
the  afternoon  audience,  the  Inquisitors,  Dr  Ber- 
nardo Luis  Cotoner,  Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huer- 
ta,  Father  Vincente  Navarro,  Father  Martin  Perez 
and  Geronymo  Vidal,  Jesuits  and  Calificadores 
of  this  Holy  Office, — and  having  examined  the 
above  propositions,  declared,  unanimously,  that  the 

1st,  is  a  superstitious  compact  with  the  devil, 
and  the  comparison  of  the  book  to  the  figure  of 
Christ  a  blasphemy  ;  the 

2d,  vain  and  superstitious ;  and  the 

3d,  is  a  superstitious  imposture  ;  and  the  asser- 
tion of  being  circumcised,  one  which  creates  sus- 
picions of  enmity  to  our  Holy  Faith. 
Vicente  Navarro,  Jesuit. 
Martin  Perez,  Jesuit  and  Lectin  ( » 

in  Theology. 
Geronymo  Vidal,  Jesuit. 

Before  me — 

Miguel  Rodriguez. 


FIRST    AUDIENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barce- 
lona, on  the  tenth  day  of  January,  one  thousand 
six   hundred   and   thirtythree,   the    Inquisitor,   Dr 


60  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Bernardo  Luis  Cotoner,  being  at  his  morning  au- 
dience, ordered  to  be  brought  from  the  secret 
prison,  a  certain  person,  who,  on  his  appearance, 
was  formally  sworn  to  declare  the  truth  in  this 
audience  and  all  others,  till  the  conclusion  of  his 
trial,  and  to  keep  secret  whatever  he  might  see 
or  hear,  and  everything  which  should  befall  him, 
concerning  his  trial. 

Questioned,  what  was  his  name,  birthplace,  age, 
occupation,  and  the  date  of  his  imprisonment. 

Answered,  that  his  name  was  Juan  Duran,  a  na- 
tive of  the  city  of  Manresa,  in  the  bishopric  of 
Vique,  of  age,  thirtyone  years,  or  thereabout,  by 
trade  a  blacksmith  and  farrier,  and  that  on  the 
day  of  the  Innocents,  he  was  arrested,  and  put  in 
the  prison  of  the  Holy  Office. 

Questioned,  who  was  his  father,  and  wife  ;  who 
were  his  grandfathers  and  uncles,  paternal  and 
maternal ;  his  brothers  and  children  ;  what  were 
their  birthplaces,  residences,  occupations,  &c. 

Answered,  [Here  follows  a  long  account,  in  reply 
to  the  above  queries. ,] 

Questioned,  of  what  lineage  and  stock  were  his 
ancestors,  and  collateral  relatives  ;  and  if  they,  or 
any  one  of  them,  or  himself,  had  ever  been  impris- 
oned, put  under  penance,  absolved,  or  condemned 
by  the  Holy  Office  of  the  Inquisition. 

Answered,  that  they  were  all  old  Christians  of 
pure  blood,  and  that  he  had  never  heard  or  un- 
derstood that  any  one  of  them  had  been  imprison- 
ed, put  under  penance,  absolved,  or  condemned 
by  the  Holy  Office  of  the  Inquisition  ;  that  he  had 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  61 

never  been  imprisoned  by  the  Holy  Office  till  the 
present  occasion. 

Questioned,  if  he  was  a  baptized  and  confirmed 
Christian,  and  made  it  a  practice  to  attend  mass, 
go  to  confession,  and  communicate,  at  the  times 
fixed  by  the  Holy  Mother  Church. 

Answered,  that  he  was  a  Christian,  and  was 
baptized,  according  as  he  had  heard  from  his  pa- 
rents, in  the  cathedral  church  of  Manresa,  but  did 
not  know  the  name  of  the  bishop  who  confirmed 
him  ;  that  he  made  it  a  practice  to  hear  mass, 
confess,  and  commune,  at  the  times  prescribed  by 
the  holy  Mother  Church,  and  that  his  last  confes- 
sion was  in  the  town  of  Valles  Campo  de  Tarra- 
gona, in  the  month  of  October  last,  on  the  day  of 
Our  Lady  del  Rosario  of  the  fleet  of  Don  John  of 
Austria,  which  confession  was  made  to  a  Carmel- 
ite friar,  of  the  convent  of  that  city,  whose  name 
he  did  not  know ;  that  he  received  the  holy  sa- 
crament from  the  hands  of  the  same  Friar  ;  that 
he  had  also  confessed  and  received  the  sacrament 
during  the  Lent  of  the  last  year,  in  the  church  of 
Igualada,  before  a  priest  belonging  there,  whose 
name  he  did  not  know  ;  and  that  he  had  a  certifi- 
cate to  this  effect  in  his  possession,  when  he  was 
taken  to  prison. 

Here  he  crossed  himself,  repeated  the  Paternos- 
ter, Ave  Maria,  and  Credo  in  Latin,  the  Salve  Re- 
gina,  the  ten  commandments,  the  seven  deadly 
sins,  and  the  general  confession  in  Catalan,  all 
correctly,  and  declared  he  knew  nothing  more 
of  the  christian  doctrine. 


62  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Questioned,  if  he  could  write  or  read,  or  had 
ever  studied  any  science  or  faculty. 

Answered,  that  he  could  read,  but  badly,  having 
taught  himself.  That  he  had  never  studied  any 
art,  and  could  not  write. 

Questioned,  if  he  had  ever  been  out  of  the 
kingdom  of  Arragon,  and  with  what  persons. 

Answered,  that  he  had  once  visited  the  kingdom 
of  Granada,  but  not  in  company  with  any  person  ; 
and  that  he  had  never,  had  communication  with 
people  of  suspicious  faith. 

Questioned,  what  were  the  events  of  his  life. 

Answered,  that  he  was  born  in  the  city  of  Man- 
resa,  as  aforesaid,  and  brought  up  in  the  house  of 
his  father,  till  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  when  he 
was  sent  to  the  town  of  Igualada,  to  Maestre  An- 
do,  a  blacksmith  and  famer,  with  whom  he  staid 
four  months,  learning  his  trade  ;  that  he  afterwards 
resided  in  several  places  in  Catalonia,  and  then 
visited  Arragon  and  Granada,  as  above  stated, 
made  no  long  stay,  but  returned  hither  about  two 
years  ago  ;  that  lately  he  had  been  dwelling  in  the 
village  of  Pont  de  Armenteria,  Campo  de  Tarra- 
gona, where  he  was  seized  by  the  Holy  Office  and 
brought  to  prison. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the  cause 
of  his  being  arrested  and  confined  in  the  prison  of 
the  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  that  he  knew  not,  nor  could  conjec- 
ture, unless  it  was  for  this ;  he  had  often  cured 
persons  of  fevers  and  other  disorders,  with  rosc- 
marv  water,  nor  vitse,  rue,  &c,  which  art  he  had 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  63 

learned  from  God  and  the  holy  Mary  our  Lady, 
from  whom  he  had  received  a  particular  gift  for 
this  purpose. 

Questioned,  in  what  manner,  and  at  what  time 
he  had  received  this  gift. 

Answered,  that  he  had  received  it  at  two  years 
of  age,  having  been  born  with  a  mole  on  his  neck 
and  two  others  on  the  left  hip  ;  that  he  had  been 
sick  in  his  youth  for  ten  years  or  more  with  great 
lameness,  and  had  entreated  God  and  the  Virgin 
to  restore  him  to  health,  and  grant  him  the  power 
to  cure  others,  that  he  might  in  this  way  earn  his 
living. 

Questioned,  what  reason  he  had  for  believing 
that  God  and  our  Lady  had  given  him  the  above 
power. 

Answered,  that  he  was  led  to  believe  it  from  the 
good  success  which  had  accompanied  his  attempts 
to  perform  the  abovementioned  cures,  which  had 
been  effected  in  the  case  of  many  persons  v/hose 
names  he  did  not  remember,  and  from  whom  he 
had  never  received  any  pay  but  what  they  gave  him 
out  of  charity  ;  that  if  on  the  above  account  any 
testimony  had  been  given  against  him,  he  suppos- 
ed this  to  be  the  cause  of  his  imprisonment  by  the 
Holy  Office,  although  he  was  not  conscious  of 
ever  having  committed  any  offence  against  our 
Lord,  nor  knew  any  other  reason  for  his  being  im- 
prisoned. 

The  prisoner  was  then  informed  that  in  this 
Holy  Office  it  was  not  customary  to  imprison  any 
person   without  sufficient  information  that  he  had 


64  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

committed,  or  seen  committed,  some  act  which 
was,  or  appeared  to  be  contrary  to  our  holy  Catholic 
Faith  and  Evangelical  doctrine,  which  is  taught 
and  professed  by  the  Holy  Mother  Roman  Catho- 
lic Church,  or  against  the  proper  and  free  ju- 
risdiction of  the  Holy  Office ;  for  which  reason  he 
was  to  understand  that  it  was  in  consequence  of 
some  such  information  that  he  had  been  appre- 
hended, and  on  this  account  he  was  exhorted  on 
the  part  of  God  our  Lord  and  his  glorious  and 
blessed  mother,  the  Virgin  Mary,  to  bethink  him- 
self well,  and  confess  the  whole  truth.  Where- 
upon he  was  remanded  to  prison. 


SECOND    AUDIENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  eleventh  day  of  January,  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  thirtythree,  the  Inquisitor, 
Dr  Bernardo  Luis  Cotoner  being  at  his  morning 
audience,  ordered  the  above  Juan  Duran  to  be 
brought  out  of  prison  ;  which  being  done,  and  the 
prisoner  present,  he  was 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  relating 
to  his  affair,  which  he  was  bound  to  state  accord- 
ing to  his  conscience. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

The  prisoner  was  then  informed,  that  he  had 
been  already  in  a  former  audience  exhorted  in 
the  name  of  our  Lord,  and  his  glorious  and  bless- 
ed mother,  the  Virgin  Mary,  to  bethink  himself 
well,  and  unburthen  his  conscience  by  declaring 
the  whole  truth  respecting  all  which  he  had  done, 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  G5 

said,  seen,  or  heard,  offensive  against  God,  or  con- 
trary in  reality  or  appearance  to  his  Holy  Catho- 
lic Faith  and  Evangelical  Doctrine,  taught  and 
professed  by  the  Holy  Mother  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  or  against  the  proper  and  free  jurisdiction 
of  the  Holy  Office,  without  testifying  anything 
false.  By  following  this  direction,  he  would  de- 
mean himself  like  a  true  Catholic  Christian,  and 
would  have  his  trial  despatched  with  all  possible 
brevity  and  mercy  ;  but  if  not,  justice  should  be 
executed  upon  him. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 
He  was  then  admonished  and  remanded  to  prison. 

Before  me —  Miguel  Rodriguez. 


THIRD    AUDIENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  twelfth  day  of  January,  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  thirtythree,  the  Inquisitors, 
Dr  Bernardo  Luis  Cotoner,  and  Dr  Domingo  Ab- 
bad  y  Huerta,  being  at  their  morning  audience,  or- 
dered the  aforesaid  Juan  Duran,  to  be  brought  out 
of  prison  ;  which  being  done,  and  the  prisoner 
present,  he  was 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  relating 
to  his  affair,  which  he  was  bound  by  his  con- 
science to  declare. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

The  prisoner  was  then  informed,  &c.  [The 
whole  repeated  as  above.] 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 


66  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

He  was  then  informed  that  the  Promoter  Fis- 
cal of  this  Holy  Office  had  an  accusation  to  bring 
against  him,  before  which  he  would  do  well  to  de- 
clare the  whole  truth,  and  unburthen  his  con- 
science, otherwise  the  Promotor  Fiscal  would  ap- 
pear and  proceed  to  his  trial. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

Straightway  appeared  Dr  Francisco  Gregorio, 
Promotor  Fiscal  of  this  Holy  Office,  and  declared 
that  he  presented  an  accusation,  signed  with  his 
name,  against  the  said  Juan  Duran,  taking  an  oath 
that  he  did  not  present  the  same  through  malice. 
The  accusation  was  as  follows  : — 

ACCUSATION. 

I,  Dr  Francisco  Gregorio,  Fiscal  of  this  Holy 
Office,  appear  before  your  Excellencies,  and  ac- 
cuse criminally,  Juan  Duran,  blacksmith,  a  native 
of  the  city  of  Manresa,  attached  to  the  secret 
prison  of  this  Inquisition,  and  now  present ;  inas- 
much as  the  said  person,  being  a  baptized  and 
confirmed  Christian,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  all 
the  rights  and  immunities  which  such  persons  do 
and  ought  to  enjoy,  not  having  the  fear  of  God 
before  his  eyes,  but  disregarding  his  own  con- 
science and  the  justice  administered  by  your  Ex- 
cellencies, has  committed  offences  against  our 
Holy  Catholic  Faith,  by  uttering  superstitious  and 
blasphemous  speeches,  and  compacting  with  the 
devil,  in  the  manner  following. 

1.  A  few  days  before  the  feast  of  All  Saints 
last,  in  a  certain  part  of  the  town  of  Valles,  in 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  67 

presence  of  certain  persons,  the  said  Duran  de- 
clared, two  or  three  times,  that  he  possessed  a 
book  containing  a  prayer,  of  such  efficacy,  that  if 
it  were  thrown  into  a  fire  along  with  a  crucifix,  the 
book  would  be  preserved,  and  the  crucifix  con- 
sumed. 

2d.  In  the  same  place  and  on  the  same  occa- 
sion, the  persons  abovementioned  hearing  the  said 
Duran  repeat  with  much  earnestness  the  above 
assertion,  reproved  him,  and  advised  him  to  give 
over  saying  such  things,  as  they  were  scandalous, 
and,  if  known  to  the  Inquisition,  would  bring  some 
punishment  upon  him  ;  whereupon  he  again  re- 
peated it,  and  declared  that  he  had  said  it  and 
would  say  it  again,  thus  remaining  in  his  obstinacy 
and  error. 

3d.  About  three  months  since,  in  the  town  of  Val- 
les,  the  said  prisoner  being  in  conversation  with  a 
certain  person,  told  him  that  he  knew  how  to 
cure  all  disorders ;  that  he  had  a  book  worth  fifty 
ducats,  as  by  merely  looking  at  it  he  could  cure 
any  disease,  and  even  restore  the  dead  to  life  ; 
and,  moreover,  that  if  people  knew  his  great  gifts 
he  should  become  very  rich. 

4th.  The  said  Duran  declared,  in  the  same 
place,  at  the  same  time,  and  to  the  same  person, 
that  he,  the  said  Duran,  had  been  circumcised 
with  blood  and  wounds,  like  Jesus  Christ,  from 
which  it  is  presumed  that  he  has  turned  Jew. 

5th.  In  consequence  of  the  abovementioned 
cures,  he  has  been  in  the  habit  of  uttering  forbid- 
den and  diabolical  invocations,  especially  that  of 


68  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

St  Cyprian,  which  he  has  had  in  a  small  book, 
about  his  person ;  and  it  is  believed  that  the  cures 
he  has  performed  have  been  executed  by  his  dia- 
bolical arts  and  the  league  he  has  made  with  the 
devil. 

6th.  He  has  boasted,  on  many  occasions,  be- 
fore certain  persons,  that  God  and  the  Holy  Vir- 
gin had  given  him  his  power  of  curing;  that  the 
Virgin  del  Rosario  had  twice  appeared  to  him, 
granted  him  the  [faculty  of  healing,  and  given 
him  her  benediction  ;  all  which  assertions  he  has 
made  to  cover  his  villanies. 

7th.  From  the  above  it  is  to  be  presumed  that 
the  said  prisoner  has  uttered  many  other  super- 
stitious and  blasphemous  speeches,  and  done  many 
other  things  by  the  help  of  the  devil,  with  whom 
he  holds  a  particular  intimacy ;  also  that  he  is 
knowing  to  the  commission  by  others  of  many 
such  crimes,  the  whole  of  which  he  has  malicious- 
ly concealed,  and  though  advised  by  your  Excel- 
lencies to  declare  the  truth,  has  not  done  it,  but 
has  committed  perjury. 

For  which  reasons,  I  entreat  that  your  Excellen- 
cies will  receive  my  relation  for  true,  or  such 
part  thereof  as  shall  suffice  for  the  ends  of  justice 
in  a  definitive  sentence,  and  declare  the  accusa- 
tion fully  proved,  and  the  said  Juan  Duran  guilty  of 
the  commission  of  the  said  crimes,  imposing  upon 
him  the  heaviest  punishments  denounced  against 
such  offences,  and  executing  them  upon  his  per- 
son and  goods  for  a  penalty  to  himself,  and  an 
example  to  others  ;  and  also  that  he  be  put  to  the 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  69 

torture  if  this  be  found  necessary,  and  that  the 
torture  be  repeated  till  he  confess  the  whole  truth 
both  of  himself  and  others.  And  I  formally  swear 
that  I  do  not  bring  this  accusation  out  of  malice, 
but  solely  to  accomplish  the  ends  of  justice. 

Dr  Francisco  Gregorio. 

The  above  accusation  having  been  presented 
and  read,  the  said  Juan  Duran  was  formally  sworn 
to  declare  the  truth,  and  answer  to  the  same,  ar- 
ticle by  article,  which  he  did  in  the  manner  fol- 
lowing. 

To  the  head  of  the  accusation,  he  answered 
that  he  was  the  same  Juan  Duran  whom  the  Fis- 
cal accused,  but  that  he  had  committed  no  offence 
against  the  Holy  Catholic  Faith,  nor  been  guilty 
of  any  blasphemies  or  superstitions  beyond  what 
he  had  confessed. 

To  the  first  article  he  answered,  that  he  con- 
fessed what  was  contained  therein  ;  that  he  uttered 
the  words  specified,  in  the  town  of  Valles  at  the 
inn  of  La  Cerdana,  and  that  the  book  referred  to 
was  the  one  found  upon  him,  with  the  invocation 
of  St  Cyprian  and  which  was  now  exhibited  ;  but 
that  he  had  made  the  assertion  abovementioned 
from  mere  ignorance  and  simplicity,  not  believing 
it  himself;  which  confession  he  made  with  tears 
and  begging  for  pardon. 

To  the  second  article,  he  answered,  that  it  was 
true,  but  that  he  did  not  remember  repeating  the 
assertion  after  he  had  been  reproved  for  it. 

To  the  third  article,  he  answered  that  it  was  true, 
and  that  the  book  alluded  to  was  the  one  now  ex- 


70  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

hibited  ;  but  that  he  never  believed  that  he  could 
raise  the  dead  to  life  by  the  help  of  it. 

To  the  fourth  article,  he  answered  that  it  was 
true,  but  that  he  was  not  circumcised,  nor  was  he 
a  Jew. 

To  the  fifth  article,  he  answered  that  he  had 
used  the  invocation  of  St  Cyprian  on  several  oc- 
casions in  cures,  without  knowing  that  it  was  for- 
bidden, but  did  it  from  pure  ignorance.  He  deni- 
ed that  he  had  any  league  with  the  devil. 

To  the  sixth  article,  he  answered  that  it  was  true, 
and  that  he  had  made  some  such  boasts,  on  the 
following  account ;  about  fifteen  years  since,  he 
was  sick  of  lethargy,  when  our  Lady  del  Rosario 
appeared  to  him,  clothed  in  white,  at  the  sight 
of  which  he  was  cured.  The  Virgin,  however,  did 
not  tell  him  that  he  should  possess  the  power  to 
cure  all  diseases,  and  whether  she  gave  him  her 
benediction  or  not,  he  could  not  tell.. 

To  the  seventh  article,  he  answered  that  he  had 
never  said  or  done  any  of  the  things  charged  up- 
on him,  save  those  confessed  above,  nor  knew  of 
any  such  which  had  been  done  by  others. 

To  the  conclusion  of  the  accusation  he  answer- 
ed that  he  had  stated  the  whole  truth  ;  and  even 
if  he  were  put  to  the  torture,  could  say  nothing 
more.  He  ended  by  begging  to  have  mercy 
shown  him.  The  above  being  read  in  his  pres- 
ence is  declared  by  him  to  be  correctly  recorded, 
and  as  he  cannot  write,  I,  the  Inquisitor  sign  this. 
Dr  Bernardo  Luis  Cotoner. 

Before  me —  Miguel  Rodriguez. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  71 

The  above  Inquisitors  then  ordered  the  said 
Juan  Duran  to  be  furnished  with  a  copy  of  the 
accusation,  that  he  might  within  three  days  make 
arrangments  for  his  defence,  with  the  help  of  one 
of  the  advocates  for  the  prisoners  of  the  Holy  Of- 
fice. The  prisoner  made  choice  of  Father  Gerony- 
mo  Vidal,  Jesuit,  for  this  purpose,  who  was  forth- 
with ordered  to  be  summoned  ;  whereupon  the 
audience  closed,  and  the  prisoner,  having  been 
admonished,  was  remanded  to  prison. 

Miguel  Rodriguez. 


AUDIENCE    TO    COMMUNICATE    THE     ACCUSATION     AND 
EVIDENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barce- 
lona, on  the  twelfth  day  of  January,  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  thirtythree,  the  Inquisitor,  Dr  Do- 
mingo Abbad  y  Huerta  being  at  his  morning  audi- 
ence, ordered  the  aforesaid  Juan  Duran  to  be 
brought  out  of  prison,  which  being  done,  and  the 
prisoner  present,  he  was 

Questioned,  if  he  recollected  anything  relating 
to  his  affair  which  he  was  bound  to  divulge,  agree 
ably  to  his  conscience. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

He  was  then  informed  that  Father  Geronymo 
Vidal,  whom  he  had  chosen  for  his  advocate,  was 
present,  that  he  might  communicate  with  him  and 
prepare  for  his  defence.  The  said  Father  Vidal 
then  swore  in  verbo  sacerdotis  to  defend  faithfully 
and  diligently  the  said  Juan  Duran,  in  the  present 
trial,  so  far  as  justice  would  permit,  to  inform  him 


72  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION- 

if  his  cause  was  not  defensible,  to  do  everything 
which  a  good  advocate  is  bound  to  do,  and  to  keep 
the  whole  matter  secret. 

The  confessions  of  the  said  Juan  Duran  were 
then  read,  with  the  accusation  against  him.  and 
his  answers  thereto,  and  the  advocate  conferred 
with  the  prisoner  respecting  his  case,  advised  him 
to  confess  the  whole  truth,  without  uttering  false 
testimony  either  against  himself  or  others,  and,  if 
he  were  guilty,  to  beg  pardon,  by  doing  which, 
he  would  experience  mercy.  The  prisoner  stated 
that  he  had  declared  the  truth  as  appeared  by  his 
confessions,  and  beyond  what  was  therein  con- 
tained denied  the  accusation,  on  which  account 
he  begged  to  be  set  at  liberty. 

The  Inquisitor  then  declared  that  definite  trial 
should  be  now  had,  and  both  parties  bring  their 
proofs  salvo  jure  impertinentium  et  non  admitten- 
dorum,  according  to  the  style  of  the  Holy  Office, 
and  the  Promotor  Fiscal  gave  notice  that  he  re- 
produced the  testimony  of  the  witnesses  which 
had  been  already  recorded.  This  testimony  he  re- 
quested might  be  examined,  and  also  that  all  oth- 
er necessary  investigations  might  be  made,  and 
the  testimony  afterwards  published  ;  whereupon 
the  prisoner  was  admonished,  and  remanded  to 
prison. 

Before  me —  Miguel  Rodriguez. 


AUDIENCE    FOR    PUBLICATION. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barce- 
lona, on  the  twentyninth  day  of  January  one  thou- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  73 

sand  six  hundred  and  thirtythree,  the  Inquisitors, 
Dr  Bernardo  Luis  Cotoner  and  Dr  Domingo  Abbad 
y  Huerta,  being  at  their  morning  audience,  order- 
ed the  aforesaid  Juan  Duran  to  be  brought  from 
prison,  which  being  done,  and  the  prisoner  pres- 
ent, he  was 

Questioned,  if  he  recollected  anything  relating 
to  his  affair  which  he  was  bound  in  conscience 
to  divulge. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

He  was  then  informed  that  the  Fiscal  of  this 
Holy  Office  had  demanded  publication  of  the  tes- 
timony against  him,  before  which  it  would  be 
well  for  him  to  bethink  himself  and  declare  the 
entire  truth  ;  by  doing  which,  his  trial  would  be 
despatched  with  all  brevity  and  mercy. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

Straightway  appeared  the  said  Francisco  Gre- 
gorio,  Promotor  Fiscal  of  this  Holy  Office,  and 
requested  publication  of  the  testimony  against  the 
said  Juan  Duran,  according  to  the  style  of  the 
Holy  Office.  The  said  Inquisitors  then  ordered 
the  publication  to  be  made,  concealing  the  names 
of  the  witnesses,  and  other  circumstances  which 
might  tend  to  discover  their  persons,  according  to 
the  orders  and  style  of  the  Holy  Office. 


PUBLICATION    OF    THE    TESTIMONY. 

A  certain  witness  sworn   and  qualified   in  the 
proper    time    and    manner,  declares,  &c.      [Here 
follows  the  substance  of  the  deposition  of  Pedro  Ori- 
ola,  as  already  given.] 
10 


• 


74  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Another  witness,  &c.  [In  this  manner,  a  sum- 
mary of  all  the  testimony  is  given.']     *     *     * 

The  publication  being  accomplished,  the  said 
Juan  Duran  was  sworn  to  declare  the  truth  in 
answer  to  the  above  testimony,  article  by  article. 
[Here  follow  the  answers  of  the  prisoner  to  the  sever- 
al specifications,  which  do  not  differ  materially  from 
the  answers  to  the  accusation  already  given.] 

A  copy  of  the  above  publication  was  ordered 
to  be  given  the  prisoner,  that  he  might,  with  the 
assistance  of  his  counsel,  prepare  for  his  defence. 
Father  Vidal,  the  prisoner's  advocate,  was  then 
summoned,  and  conferred  with  the  prisoner  res- 
pecting his  trial,  when  the  audience  closed,  and 
the  prisoner,  being  admonished,  was  remanded  to 
prison.  Miguel  Rodriguez. 

AUDIENCE    FOR    THE    PRISONER'S  DEFENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  twentyninth  day  of  January,  one 
thousand  six  hundred  and  thirtythree,  the  Inquisi- 
tor, Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta  being  at  his 
afternoon  audience,  ordered  the  said  Juan  Duran 
to  be  brought  from  prison,  which  being  done,  and 
the  prisoner  present,  he  was 

Questioned,  if  he  recollected  anything  relative 
to  his  affair,  which  he  was  bound  in  conscience  to 
divulge. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

He  was  then  informed  that  Father  Geronymo  Vi- 
dal was  present,  who  had  dawn  up  his  defence, 
and  that  he  might  confer  with  him ;  the  above 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  75 

advocate  then  read  to  the  prisoner  a  writing  which 
the  prisoner  accepted,  and  declared  that  he  made 
a  formal  presentation  of  the  same.  The  defence 
was  as  follows  : — 

Although  Juan  Duran,  inhabitant  of  Manresa, 
in  the  archbishopric  of  Vique,  has  no  necessity  for 
a  defence,  on  account  of  his  full  confession  and 
declaration  of  the  truth  respecting  the  matter  of 
the  Fiscal's  accusation,  yet  for  greater  security  in 
his  defence,  he  offers  the  following. 

1st.  That  he  is  ignorant,  and  uttered  the  as- 
sertions of  which  he  is  accused,  without  knowing 
that  they  were  heavy  offences  against  our  Lord, 
for  which  he  is  extremely  grieved,  and  begs  par- 
don with  tears,  both  of  God  and  this  Holy  Tribu- 
nal, having  spoken  out  of  mere  vanity,  things 
which  were  not  true. 

2d.  That  he  has  fully  confessed  ;  and  as  to 
what  is  stated  by  one  witness  against  him,  that  he 
declared  himself  to  be  the  God  of  the  country,  and 
by  another,  that  he  affirmed  he  was  next  to  God, 
that  these  testimonies  are  so  extravagant  that  they 
ought  not  to  be  regarded;  that  he  is  very  peni- 
tent for  his  offences  against  our  Lord,  and  begs 
correction  and  instruction,  with  all  humility. 

3d.  That  he  is  descended  from  old  Christians, 
and  is  a  good  Christian  himself,  having  set  a  good 
example  wherever  he  has  resided,  living  by  his 
labor,  hearing  mass  and  sermons;  that  he  knows 
the  prayers,  and  in  whatever  he  has  failed,  he  has 
not  offended  wilfully  ;  on  all  which  accounts  he 
concludes  by  supplicating  the  favor  of  your  Ex- 
cellency's usual  mercy.  Gerojnvmo  Vidal. 


76  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

The  Inquisitors  then  ordered  the  above  to  be 
notified  to  the  Fiscal  of  this  Holy  Office  ;  where- 
upon the  audience  closed,  and  the  prisoner  was 
remanded  to  prison. 

Before  me —  Miguel  Rodriguez. 


SENTENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  tenth  day  of  February,  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  thirtythree,  at  the  afternoon 
audience  for  the  determination  of  causes,  present, 
the  Inquisitors,  Dr  Bernardo  Luis  Cotoner  and  Dr 
Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta,  and,  on  the  part  of  the 
archbishopric  of  Tarragona  and  bishopric  of  Urgel, 
Don  Ramon  de  Queralt.  Having  examined  the 
proceedings  of  the  cause  against  Juan  Duran, 
blacksmith,  native  of  Manresa,  and  now  in  the  se- 
cret prison  of  this  Holy  Office  ;  ordered,  unani- 
mously, that  the  said  person  attend  at  an  Auto  de 
Fe,  if  any  one  should  shortly  happen,  and  if  not, 
that  he  proceed  to  some  church  designated  by  this 
Tribunal,  in  the  manner  of  a  penitent,  and  with 
the  insignia  of  a  necromancer,  that  his  sentence 
be  there  read  to  him,  and  a  mass  be  said  ;  that  he 
make  an  abjuration  de  levi*  and  be  banished  from 
the  city  of  Manresa,  and  town  of  Valles,  the  places 


*  There  were  three  sorts  of  persons  distinguished  hy  the  Tribunal 
as  suspected  of  heresy  ;  those  who  were  lightly  suspected,  those  who 
were  seriously  suspected,  and  those  who  were  violently  suspected. 
The  lightly  suspected  were  designated  by  the  term  de  levi,  and  tiie 
seriously  and  violently  suspected,  by  the  term  de  vehement!. 

Llorente  Hist,  de  la  Inquisition. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  77 

where  he  transgressed,  for  four  leagues  round- 
about, during  the  space  of  four  years ;  and  that  if 
he  infringe  this  order,  he  suffer  double  the  above 
penalty. 

Before  me —  Miguel  Rodriguez. 


In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  fifth  day  of  March,  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  thirtythree,  the  Inquisitors,  Dr 
Bernardo  Luis  Cotoner,  and  Dr  Domingo  Abbad 
y  Huerta  being  at  their  morning  audience,  order- 
ed the  said  Juan  Duran  to  be  brought  from  prison, 
which  being  done,  and  the  prisoner  present,  he 
was 

Questioned,  &c. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  to  declare  in 
discharge  of  his  conscience,  either  respecting  his 
own  affair,  or  with  respect  to  aught  that  had  been 
done  or  said  in  the  prisons  of  this  Holy  Office,  or 
against  the  dignity,  authority,  or  secrets  of  its  min- 
isters, or  respecting  the  custody  of  the  prisoners 
therein  ;  that  he  had  not  witnessed  any  communi- 
cation carried  on  among  them,  or  knew  that  any 
one  had  spoken  to  another,  or  to  any  one  without ; 
that  he  carried  no  communication  from  them  to 
any  one,  and  that  the  Alcayde  and  Steward  have 
faithfully  discharged  their  duties. 

He  was  then  commanded  by  virtue  of  the  oath 
which  he  had  taken,  and  under  penalty  of  com- 
plete excommunication,  to  observe  perfect  secre- 
cy in  relation  to  all  which  had  befallen  him,  and 
all  which  he  had  seen,,  heard,  learned,  or  under- 


78  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

stood  while  in  prison,  and  not  to  divulge  the  same, 
in  any  shape  ;  all  which  he  promised. 

Dr  Bernardo  Luis  Cotoner. 
Before  me — 

Miguel  Rodriguez. 


TRIAL  OF  LEONARDO   PHELIPE, 

FOR    LUTHERANISM. 
MOST    ILLUSTRIOUS   SIR, 

I,  the  undersigned  Secretary,  who,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  the  Fiscal  of  this  Holy  Office,  exercise 
his  duties,  appear  before  your  Excellency,  and  de- 
clare, that,  from  the  information  which  I  now  pre- 
sent, it  appears,  and  is  manifest  that  Phelippe  Le- 
onart,  a  needlemaker,  and  a  Frenchman  by  birth, 
now  resident  in  the  city  of  Tarragona,  is  a  Lu- 
theran heretic,  commonly  swearing,  and  denying 
God  and  the  Saints,  ridiculing  the  Holy  Sacra- 
ments of  the  Church,  never  confessing  himself,  for 
which  he  has  been  declared  excommunicated,  and 
committing  other  crimes. 

On  which  account,  I  request  that  your  Excel- 
lency will  order  him  to  be  arrested  and  confined 
in  the  secret  prison,  in  order  that  the  ends  of  jus- 
tice may  be  accomplished. 

Mattheo  Magre,  Sec^y. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  79 

In  the  city  of  Tarragona,  on  the  fifteenth  day 
of  April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  thirtyseven,  appeared  voluntarily 
Tecla  Leonarda,  wife  of  Felipe  Leonart,  needle- 
maker,  a  Frenchman  by  birth,  and  inhabitant 
of  this  city  of  Tarragona,  of  age,  as  she  stated, 
fifty  years,  or  thereabout.  She  made  the  follow- 
ing declaration. 

i  Serior  Commissary,  I  am  the  wife  of  Felipe 
Leonart,  needlemaker,  a  Frenchman,  and  have 
been  married  to  him  about  twenty  years.  I  cannot 
learn  that  during  all  this  time  he  has  confessed  him- 
self once,  unless  compelled  to  do  it  during  Lent. 
He  has  many  times  been  declared  excommunicat- 
ed for  not  confessing,  and  for  neglecting  to  com- 
ply with  the  precepts  of  the  church.  He  formerly 
lived  in  Valencia,  in  the  Calle  de  la  Mar,  Parish 
of  St  Tomas.  He  never  confessed  himself  here, 
and  was  reminded  of  his  neglect  by  the  Rector. 
Upon  being  rebuked  by  me  and  his  son,  and  ad- 
vised to  confess,  he  broke  out  into  blasphemies 
against  God  and  the  Saints,  with  such  violence 
that  he  appeared  more  like  a  demoniac  than  any- 
thing else.  It  being  suggested  to  him  that  God 
did  not  prosper  him  because  he  did  not  attend 
mass,  nor  wear  a  rosary,  nor  hear  sermons,  nor 
confess,  but  swore,  and  blasphemed,  and  that  if 
the  Holy  Inquisition  knew  of  this  he  would  be 
apprehended,  he  replied  that  the  devil  must  help 
him  ;  that  he  did  not  care  for  me  nor  the  Inqui- 
sition, that  he  would  not  confess,  and  that  God 
gave  him  nothing  which  the  devil  would  give.     In 


80  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

particular,  last  Passion  Week  his  son  carried  him 
to  the  Jesuits  to  confess  ;  but,  on  finding  to  what 
place  he  was  conducting  him,  the  said  Felipe  aban- 
doned him  and  refused  to  confess,  greatly  offend- 
ing his  son  and  the  confessor.  He  has  given  so 
many  proofs  of  not  being  a  Christian,  that  many 
of  his  apprentices  have  left  him,  declaring  that 
they  would  not  live  in  a  house  where  God  was 
not  venerated  and  worshipped.' 

The  deponent  further  declared  that  on  making 
a  full  confession  last  Lent,  of  all  the  sins  of  her 
husband  and  her  own  negligence  in  denouncing 
him,  she  was  directed  to  give  information  of  the 
whole  to  this  Holy  Office,  and  was  refused  abso- 
lution unless  she  complied,  and  that  there  were 
many  more  things  to  be  told  which  she  could  not 
recollect,  as  they  happened  so  long  since. 

The  above  is  the  truth  according  to  the  oath  of 
the  deponent,  and  is  stated  by  her  not  out  of 
malice,  but  solely  to  discharge  her  conscience.  It 
was  read  to  her,  and  declared  to  be  faithfully  re- 
corded. She  promised  secrecy,  and  I,  the  Com- 
missary, sign  for  her.  The  Canon, 

Juan  Ferrer,  Commissary. 

Before  me — 

Miguel  Gibert,  Nofy  of  Tarragona. 


In  the  city  of  Tarragona,  on  the  day,  month, 
and  year  above  specified,  before  the  abovemen- 
tioned  Commissary  of  this  Holy  Office,  appeared, 
according  to  summons,  and  swore  formally  to  de- 
clare the  truth,    a  woman  calling  herself  Maria 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  81 

Leonart,  wife  of  Joseph  Leonart,  an  inhabitant  of 
this  city  of  Tarragona,  of  age,  as  she  stated,  six- 
teen years,  or  thereabout. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  the  cause  of  her  being 
summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  she  supposed  it  to  be  for  the 
purpose  of  making  inquiry  respecting  the  life  and 
conduct  of  Felipe  Leonart,  her  father-in-law. 
She  was  married  about  four  months  ago  to  Joseph 
Leonart,  his  son,  and  what  she  knew  of  the  mat- 
ter in  question  was  this  ; — the  said  Felipe  Leonart 
was  accustomed  to  swear  a  thousand  times  a  day, 
with  and  without  cause.  He  would  swear  *  by  the 
head  of  God  ; '  and  the  deponent  had  heard  him  de- 
clare, many  times,  that  all  his  good  luck  happened 
in  the  name  of  the  devil,  and  not  of  God.  The 
deponent  had  asked  him  why  he  did  not  confess, 
observing  that  to  kneel  at  the  foot  of  a  confessor, 
and  relate  his  sins,  was  to  relate  them  to  God  ; 
and  the  said  Felipe  Leonart  replied  that  this  was 
all  babble ;  that  he  believed  just  as  he  pleased. 
As  to  hearing  mass,  he  would  take  it  upon  trust ; 
that  the  priests  said  in  their  sermons  just  what 
they  chose,  and  that  they  did  nothing  but  trouble 
the  common  folks.  Some  one  asking  him  if  he 
was  not  afraid  of  dying,  he  replied  that  if  he  knew 
that  there  was  a  tavern  in  the  other  world,  he 
should  wish  to  die  immediately.  The  deponent 
advised  him  to  confess  himself,  as  otherwise  he 
would  be  declared  excommunicated.  He  replied 
that  he  would  not  confess,  and  in  fact  did  not,  the 
last  Lent,  although  his  son  attempted  to  carry 
11 


82  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

him  to  confession.  His  common  oaths  were  '  the 
sacred  host,'  '  the  hours  of  God,'  <  the  head  of 
God.'  His  common  helpers  were  the  devils ; 
saying,  <  by  the  help  of  the  devil  I  will  do  this,' 
&c.  So  that  during  the  whole  space  of  four 
months  the  deponent  has  never  known  a  word  or 
action  of  a  Christian  to  proceed  from  him,  never 
kneeling  when  the  signal  is  given,  nor  taking  off 
his  cap,  nor  leaving  off  eating,  although  requested 
to  do  so  by  his  wife  and  the  deponent. 

The  above  statement  is  not  made  from  any  but 
conscientious  motives,  and  on  being  read,  was  de- 
clared by  the  deponent  to  be  correctly  recorded. 
She  promised  secrecy,  and  I,  the  said  Commissa- 
ry, sign  for  her.  The  Canon, 

Juan  Ferrer,  Commissary. 

Before  me — 

Miguel  Gibert,  Notfy  of  Tarragona. 


In  the  city  of  Tarragona,  on  the  seventeenth 
day  of  the  month  abovementioned,  and  the  same 
year,  before  the  said  Commissary  of  the  Holy  Of- 
fice, appeared,  according  to  summons,  and  swore 
formally  to  declare  the  truth,  a  man  calling  him- 
self Joseph  Leonart,  an  inhabitant  of  Tarragona, 
of  age,  as  he  stated,  twenty  years  or  thereabout. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  the  cause  of  his  being 
summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  he  supposed  it  to  be  for  the 
purpose  of  learning  the  bad  conduct  of  Felipe 
Leonart,  a  Frenchman,  and  his  father.  For  a 
number  of  years  the  deponent  and  his  mother  had 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  83 

concealed  many  heavy  offences  committed  by  him 
against  the  Holy  Catholic  Faith. 

The  said  Felipe  Leonart  was  a  great  swearer, 
saying  '  The  head,  soul,  and  body  of  Christ '  a  mil- 
lion times  every  day,  declaring  that  he  did  not  fear 
God,  the  king,  nor  anybody;  and  that  if  he  knew 
there  was  a  tavern  in  the  other  world,  he  should 
not  care  if  he  were  to  die,  although  his  body  were 
burnt  at  Carraxet.  Everything  which  succeeded 
well  with  him,  he  ascribed  to  the  devil  and  not  to 
God,  saying,  '  The  devil  will  give  me  food,  for  [ 
do  not  want  anything  from  God,'  and,  '  The  devil 
will  give  me  luck  in  this  ; '  so  that  his  patron  and 
helper  in  everything  was  the  devil.  He  never  con- 
fessed, and  the  last  Lent  the  deponent  attempted 
to  carry  him  to  the  convent  of  St  Francisco ;  but 
on  perceiving  that  he  was  leading  him  to  confes- 
sion, he  ran  away  from  him.  He  declared  it  non- 
sense to  relate  one's  sins  to  a  confessor,  and  that 
a  man  should  tell  of  nothing  but  what  he  pleased. 
The  deponent  had  never  seen  him  more  than  once 
at  mass.  He  wore  no  rosary,  nor  any  sign  of  a 
Christian.  He  had  been  declared  excommuni- 
cated for  not  complying  with  the  precepts  of  the 
church,  in  this  city,  in  Barcelona,  and  in  Valencia. 
He  declared  that  the  preachers  were  troublers  of 
the  people.  At  one  time,  in  Valencia,  he  went  to 
bed  after  tiring  himself  with  swearing,  and  told 
the  family  that  a  woman,  a  monkey,  and  a  young 
man  then  in  the  house,  had  appeared  to  him  in 
bed,  scratched  his  face  all  over  and  thrown  him 
down  stairs.     They  found  him  at  the  foot  of  the 


84  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

stairs  with  his  face  scratched,  and  believed  that 
this  had  been  done  by  the  devil,  from  his  mention- 
ing him  so  often.  The  deponent  and  his  wife  had 
advised  him  to  remove  his  residence  lest  the  Holy 
Inquisition  should  punish  him  ;  to  which  he  an- 
swered that  he  did  not  care  for  the  Inquisition. 
Finally,  the  said  Felipe  Leonart  lead  such  a  life 
that  he  appeared  more  like  a  Lutheran  than  a 
Christian. 

The  above  is  the  truth  according  to  the  oath 
of  the  deponent,  who  does  not  make  this  declara- 
tion out  of  malice  or  ill  will  against  his  father,  but 
solely  to  discharge  his  conscience,  and  to  obey 
the  commands  of  his  confessors.  It  having  been 
read,  he  declared  it  to  be  correctly  recorded,  and 
signed  his  name. 

Josef  Lleonart. 

Before  me — 

Miguel  Gibert,  Nothj  of  Tarragona. 


CALIFICACION. 

A  person  of  ordinary  rank,  and  of  an  infected 
nation  has  been  declared,  by  persons  living  with 
him,  to  have  confessed  but  once  for  twentytwo 
years,  and  at  this  time  by  compulsion.  On  ma- 
ny occasions  he  has  been  declared  excommu- 
nicated for  not  complying  with  the  precepts  of  the 
Church. 

The  same  witnesses,  as  they  cannot  perceive 
that  he  goes  to  confession,  rebuke  him  for  it, 
whereupon  he  abjures  God  and  the  Saints  in  such 
a  manner  that  he  appears  possessed.     He  wears 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  85 

no  rosary,  does  not  hear  mass,  nor  confess,  and 
declares  that  the  devil  helps  him.  On  being  re- 
buked and  threatened  with  a  denunciation  to  the 
Inquisition,  he  speaks  contemptuously  of  it,  de- 
clares that  he  will  not  confess,  and  that  God  gives 
him  nothing  that  the  devil  will  give. 

Every  day  he  swears  by  God  without  occasion, 
and  affirms  that  all  which  happens  well  to  him  is 
done  in  the  name  of  the  devil  and  not  of  God. 
Being  told  to  go  to  mass,  he  replied  that  he  would 
take  it  upon  trust ;  that  the  preachers  said  just 
what  suited  them  ;  that  he  believed  what  he  pleas- 
ed ;  that  they  did  nothing  but  make  trouble  ;  that 
he  did  not  wish  for  anything  from  God  which  the 
devil  could  give  him ;  and  that  it  was  nonsense  to 
relate  a  man's  sins  to  a  confessor,  or  anything 
more  than  what  a  man  pleased.  Wherever  he 
has  lived  he  has  been  excommunicated  for  not 
following  the  precepts  of  the  Church. 

Some  one  asking  him  if  he  was  not  afraid  of 
dying,  he  answered  that  he  did  not  fear  God,  and 
that  if  he  knew  that  there  was  a  tavern  in  the 
other  world,  he  should  not  regard  dying  immedi- 
ately. 


In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  seventh  day  of  May,  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  thirtyseven,  the  Inquisitor,  Dr 
Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta  presiding  sole  in  his 
morning  audience,  ordered  the  Calificadores  of 
this  Holy  Tribunal,  Father  Maestro  Onofre  Ferrer, 


86  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

and  Father  Maestro  Chrysostomo  Bonamich,  both 
Conventuals  of  this  city  to  appear  before  him. 

Having  examined  the  propositions  above  speci- 
fied, they  declared  unanimously  that  the  above 
person  is  a  scandalous,  presumptuous  blasphemer, 
and  a  formal  heretic,  who  ought  to  be  proceeded 
against. 

Maestro  Fr.  Onofre  Ferrer. 
Maestro  Fr.  Chrysostomo  Bonamich. 
Before  me — 

Damian  Fonolleda,  Sec'y. 


In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  seventh  day  of  May,  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  thirtyseven,  the  Inquisitor,  Dr 
Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta  presiding  sole  in  his 
afternoon  audience,  having  examined  the  infor- 
mation received  by  the  Commissary  of  Tarragona 
against  Phelipe  Leonardo,  needlemaker,  a  French- 
man, and  an  inhabitant  of  that  city, — ordered,  that 
this  person  be  arrested  and  confined  in  the  secret 
prison  of  this  Holy  Office  to  take  his  trial  in  form, 
and  that  his  apprehension  be  intrusted  to  the 
Commissary  of  the  abovementioned  city,  who 
shall  transmit  him  from  place  to  place  and  from 
the  hands  of  one  Familiar  to  another. 

Before  me — 

Damian  Fonolleda,  Sec'y. 


first  audience. 
In  the   Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  twentysecond  day  of  May,  one  thou- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  87 

sand  six  hundred  and  thirtyseven,  the  Inquisitor, 
Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta  presiding  sole  in  his 
morning  audience,  ordered  to  be  brought  out  of 
prison,  a  person,  who,  on  his  appearance,  was 
formally  sworn  to  declare  the  truth,  both  on  this 
occasion  and  in  all  the  other  audiences  which  may 
be  held  till  the  determination  of  his  trial ;  also  to 
preserve  secrecy  with  respect  to  everything  which 
he  may  see,  hear,  or  understand,  and  everything 
which  may  take  place  respecting  him. 

Questioned,  his  name,  birthplace,  residence, 
age,  and  occupation,  and  the  time  of  his  impris- 
onment by  the  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  that  his  name  was  Leonardo  Phelipe, 
needlemaker  ;  that  he  was  a  Frenchman  by  birth, 
born  in  the  village  of  Agullon  in  the  bishopric  of 
Genes  ;  that  he  was  about  fortysix  years  of  age, 
and  that  he  was  apprehended  by  the  Holy  Office 
on  Sunday,  the  sixteenth  of  the  present  month. 

Questioned,  who  was  his  father  and  mother, 
who  were  his  grandfathers,  uncles,  paternal  and 
maternal,  wife,  children,  brothers,  &c. 

[Here  follows  the  prisoner ]s  account.'] 

Questioned,  of  what  race  and  stock  were  his 
ancestors  and  collateral  relations,  and  whether 
any  one  of  them,  or  he  himself,  had  ever  been  put 
under  penance  or  punished  by  the  Holy  Office  of 
the  Inquisition. 

Answered  that  they  were  French,  and  old  Cath- 
olic Christians,  of  pure  blood  and  lineage  ;  that 
in  the  place  of  his  birth  there  were  no  Lutherans ; 
that  none  of  the  family  had  ever  been  contamin- 


88  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

ated  with  this  heresy,  and  that  none  of  them  had 
ever  been  apprehended,  punished,  or  put  under 
penance  by  the  Holy  Office  of  the  Inquisition,  till 
the  present  occasion. 

Questioned,  if  he  was  a  baptized  and  confirmed 
Christian,  heard  mass,  confessed,  and  took  the 
sacrament  at  such  times  as  the  Holy  Mother  Ro- 
man Catholic  Church  directed  ;  at  what  time  he 
made  his  last  confession,  and  from  whom  he  re- 
ceived the  holy  sacrament. 

Answered,  that  he  was  a  baptized  and  confirm- 
ed Christian,  according  to  what  he  had  been  told 
by  his  parents,  and  that  he  recollected  the  fact  of 
his  confirmation  by  the  bishop  of  Genes,  on  which 
occasion  he  gave  him  a  slap  in  the  face  ;  that  he 
attended  mass,  confessed,  and  took  the  sacrament 
when  directed  by  the  Holy  Mother  Roman  Catho- 
lic Church  ;  that  the  last  time  he  confessed  was  at 
the  festival  of  the  Resurrection,  the  present  year, 
in  the  convent  of  St  Francisco,  at  Tarragona,  to 
the  Guardian  or  Sacristan ;  that  he  received  the 
holy  sacrament  in  the  cathedral  church  from  the 
hands  of  one  of  the  curates,  as  could  be  shown  by 
the  certificate  found  upon  him  at  the  time  of  his 
imprisonment. 

Here  the  prisoner  crossed  himself  in  a  clumsy 
manner,  and  could  not  repeat  perfectly  the  words 
of  the  prcesignum  cruris.  He  said  the  paternoster, 
ave  Maria,  and  credo  with  much  reverence,  de- 
claring that  he  did  not  know  the  salve  regina. 
He  repeated  the  ten   commandments,  and  stated 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  89 

that  he  knew  nothing  more  of  the   christian  doc- 
trine. 

Questioned,  if  he  had  visited  any  foreign  coun- 
tries since  he  came  to  Spain,  or  had  any  dealings 
with  people  suspected  in  the  faith. 

Answered,  No. 

Questioned,  if  he  could  read  and  write,  or  had 
studied  any  science  or  faculty. 

Answered,  that  he  could  neither  read  nor  write, 
nor  had  ever  studied  anything  but  his  trade. 

Questioned,  what  were  the  events  of  his  life. 

Answered,  that  he  was  born,  as  already  stated, 
in  the  village  of  Agullon,  and  brought  up  by  his 
parents  till  thirteen  years  of  age,  without  doing 
anything  but  eat  and  drink.  On  the  death  of  his 
parents,  he  was  left  a  destitute  orphan,  and  came 
to  Catalonia  begging.  He  arrived  at  Barcelona, 
and  lived  three  years  as  a  servant  with  Maestre 
Gosart,  needlemaker,  after  which  he  served  vari- 
ous other  persons  in  Barcelona  for  the  space  of 
more  than  eleven  years.  From  this  city  he  went 
to  Tarragona,  where  he  worked  with  Francisco 
Roca  till  he  married  the  wife  abovementioned, 
since  which  he  has  worked  for  himself  without 
leaving  Tarragona  but  once,  when  he  staid  about 
three  months  in  Caragoca,  at  the  end  of  which 
he  returned  home. 

Questioned,   if  he  knew    or   conjectured   the 
cause  of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,   that   he  neither   knew  nor   conjec- 
tured  anything,  except  that  he  was  seized  by  the 
Holy  Office  while  at  work  in  his  shop. 
12 


90  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

The  prisoner  was  then  informed  that  in  this 
Holy  Office  it  was  not  customary  to  imprison  any 
one  without  sufficient  information  that  he  had  said 
or  done,  or  witnessed  the  saying  or  doing  by  other 
persons,  of  something  which  was,  or  appeared 
to  be  contrary  to  our  Holy  Catholic  Faith  and 
Evangelical  Law,  taught  and  preached  by  the 
Holy  Mother  Roman  Catholic  Church,  or  against 
the  free  and  just  proceedings  of  the  Holy  Office, 
and  on  this  account  he  must  understand  that  he 
was  imprisoned  by  reason  of  some  such  informa- 
tion; therefore  he  was  exhorted,  by  his  reverence 
for  God  our  Lord  and  his  glorious  and  blessed  Moth- 
er the  Virgin  Mary,  to  bethink  himself  and  declare 
the  whole  truth  with  respect  to  his  own  offences, 
and  what  he  knew  of  others,  without  concealing 
anything  or  bearing  false  witness  against  any  one, 
by  which  proceeding  he  would  clear  his  conscience 
as  a  Catholic  Christian,  and  save  his  soul,  and 
that  his  trial  should,  in  this  case,  be  despatched 
with  all  brevity  and  mercy ;  otherwise  justice 
should  be  executed. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

The  declarations  which  he  had  made  in  this  au- 
dience were  then  read  and  declared  by  him  to  be 
correctly  recorded.  He  declared  that  they  con- 
tained the  truth,  that  he  had  nothing  to  alter  in 
them,  and  if  necessary  was  ready  to  repeat  them 
anew.  And  having  been  admonished  to  bethink 
himself  and  declare  the  truth,  he  was  remanded  to 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  91 

prison.     Not  being  able  to  write,  I,  the  said  In- 
quisitor, sign  this. 

Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta. 
Before  me — 

Miguel  Rodriguez. 


SECOND    AUDIENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  twentythird  day  of  May,  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  thirtyseven,  the  Inquisitor,  Dr 
Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta  presiding  alone  in  his 
morning  audience,  ordered  the  abovementioned 
Leonardo  Felipe  to  be  brought  out  of  prison, 
which  being  done,  and  the  prisoner  present,  he 
was 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  relating 
to  his  affair  which  he  was  bound  by  his  oath  to 
divulge. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

The  prisoner  was  then  told  that  he  was  aware 
he  had  in  the  preceding  audience  been  exhorted  by 
his  reverence  for  God  our  Lord  and  his  glorious 
and  blessed  Mother,  &x. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

Whereupon  he  was  admonished  to  bethink  him- 
self and  remanded  to  prison. 

Before  me — 

Miguel  Rodriguez. 


THIRD    AUDIENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barce- 
lona,  on   the  twenty  fifth  of  May,  one   thousand 


92  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

six  hundred  and  thirtyseven,  the  Inquisitor,  Dr 
Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta,  presiding  alone  at  his 
morning  audience,  ordered  the  abovementioned 
Leonardo  Phelipe  to  be  brought  out  of  prison ; 
which  being  done,  and  the  prisoner  present,  he 
was 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  relating 
to  his  affair  which  he  was  bound  to  divulge  ac- 
cording to  his  oath. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

The  prisoner  was  then  told  that  he  was  aware 
he  had  in  the  preceding  audiences  been  exhort- 
ed, &c. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

Whereupon  the  audience  closed,  and  the  pris- 
oner having  been  admonished  to  bethink  himself, 
was  remanded  to  prison. 

Before  me — 

Miguel  Rodriguez. 


AUDIENCE    FOR    PRESENTING    THE    ACCUSATION. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  twentyfifth  day  of  May,  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  thirtyseven,  the  Inquisitor, 
Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta  presiding  sole  in  his 
afternoon  audience,  ordered  the  abovementioned 
Leonardo  Phelipe  to  be  brought  out  of  prison ; 
which  being  done,  and  the  prisoner  present,  he 
was 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  relating 
to  his  affair  which  he  was  bound  by  his  oath  to 
divulge. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  93 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

He  was  then  informed  that  the  Promotor  Fis- 
cal of  the  Holy  Office  had  an  accusation  to  bring 
against  him,  and  that  it  would  be  well  for  him, 
both  as  a  means  of  discharging  his  conscience 
and  despatching  briefly  his  trial,  to  confess  the 
whole  truth  before  the  accusation  was  presented, 
according  as  he  had  been  previously  exhorted,  by 
which  he  would  experience  the  mercy  which  the 
Holy  Office  extends  towards  all  who  confess  freely; 
otherwise  he  was  informed  that  the  Fiscal  would 
attend,  and  justice  be  executed. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

Straightway  appeared  the  Secretary,  Damian 
Fonolleda,  who,  by  reason  of  the  absence  of  the 
Fiscal,  and  the  indisposition  of  Mateo  Magre, 
Secretary,  took  upon  him  that  office.  He  present- 
ed an  accusation  signed  by  him  against  the  said 
Leonardo  Phelipe,  making  oath  that  he  did  not 
present  the  same  out  of  malice. 

ACCUSATION. 

I,  the  Fiscal  of  this  Holy  Office,  appear  before 
your  Excellency,  and  accuse  criminally,  Leo- 
nardo Phelipe,  needlemaker,  born  in  the  village  of 
Agullon,  in  the  bishopric  of  Gens,  kingdom  of 
France,  and  an  inhabitant  of  the  city  of  Tarrago- 
na, attached  to  the  secret  prison  of  this  Inquisi- 
tion, and  now  present,  inasmuch  as  he,  being  a 
baptized  and  confirmed  Christian,  and  enjoying 
all  the  graces  and  immunities  which  such  persons 
may  and  ought  to  enjoy,  not  having  the  fear  of 


94  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

God,  his  own  conscience,  or  the  justice  adminis- 
tered by  your  Excellency  before  his  eyes,  has 
committed  offences  against  our  Holy  Catholic 
Faith,  by  blaspheming  and  denying  God  our  Lord, 
seeking  favor  and  help  from  devils,  and  doing  oth- 
er things  in  the  manner  following. 

1.  He  has  many  times  been  declared  excom- 
municated in  Barcelona,  Tarragona,  and  other 
places,  for  not  confessing  in  Lent  according  to  his 
duty.  And  while  he  resided  in  the  parish  of  St 
Thomas,  in  Valencia,  he  could  not  be  persuaded 
to  confess,  although  he  received  many  admoni- 
tions to  that  effect  from  the  rector  of  the  said 
parish,  thus  remaining  excommunicated,  careless 
of  the  salvation  of  his  soul. 

2.  Certain  persons  of  his  acquaintance  rebuk- 
ing him  for  not  confessing,  he  blasphemed  God 
and  the  Saints  with  such  fury  and  malice  that  he 
appeared  like  a  demoniac.  He  wears  no  rosary. 
Some  one  threatening  him  with  a  punishment 
from  the  Inquisition,  he  replied  that  he  did  not 
care  for  the  Inquisition,  and  that  he  would  not 
confess  ;  also,  that  he  wanted  nothing  from  God 
which  the  devil  could  give  him. 

3.  On  Passion  Week,  during  the  last  Lent, 
some  person  was  conducting  him  to  the  Jesuits  of 
the  aforesaid  city  of  Tarragona,  for  the  purpose 
of  confession,  out  of  charity  towards  him,  and  al- 
though it  was  in  his  power  to  comply  with  the 
precept  in  this  instance,  he  refused,  and  fled  from 
the  church,  to  the  great  scandal  of  the  confessor 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  95 

who  was  there  to  hear  him,  as  well  as  other  per- 
sons. 

4.  He  is  accustomed  to  deny  God,  and  swear 
1  by  the  head  of  God,'  and  <  the  soul  and  body  of 
Christ,'  repeating  it  commonly  many  times  a  day  ; 
also  declaring  that  his  living,  and  everything  he 
gets,  comes  in  the  name  of  the  devil  and  not  of 
God.  Some  one  rebuking  him  for  this,  he  said 
that  he  believed  what  he  pleased,  and  as  to  hear- 
ing mass  on  the  days  prescribed,  he  would  take  it 
upon  trust ;  that  the  preachers  said  just  what  they 
chose,  and  did  nothing  but  disturb  the  people. 

5.  He  says  that  he  does  not  fear  God,  and 
that  if  he  knew  there  was  a  tavern  in  the  other 
world,  he  should  not  care  if  he  died,  although  his 
body  were  burnt. 

6.  I  accuse  him  of  having  said  that  a  man 
ought  not  to  tell  his  sins  to  the  confessor,  and 
that  it  was  nonsense  for  a  man  to  tell  anything  but 
what  he  pleased.  This  being  a  proposition  main- 
tained by  the  false  and  reprobate  sect  of  Martin 
Luther,  and  the  prisoner  belonging  to  France,  a 
country  where  this  sect  prevails,  it  is  to  be  pre- 
sumed that  he  belongs  to  it. 

7.  Furthermore,  it  is  to  be  supposed  that  the. 
prisoner  has  committed  many  other  offences 
against  our  Holy  Catholic  Faith,  and  uttered  other 
blasphemies  and  heretical  speeches,  as  well  as 
known  that  other  persons  have  done  the  same,  all 
which  he  conceals  like  a  bad  Christian.  Of  this 
I  intend  to  accuse  him  more  formally.  At  present  I 
do  it  in  general  terms,  and  although  he  has  been 


96  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

exhorted  by  your  Excellency  to  declare  the  truth, 
he  has  not  done  it,  but  has  perjured  himself. 

For  which  reasons  I  request  and  supplicate  your 
Excellency  to  admit  my  charges  as  proved,  or 
such  a  portion  of  the  same  as  shall  suffice  for  the 
ends  of  justice  in  a  definitive  sentence,  or  what- 
ever measure  may  be  taken,  and  to  declare  my 
accusation  fully  proved,  and  the  said  Leonardo 
Phelipe  guilty  of  the  abovementioned  offences, 
condemning  him  to  the  heaviest  punishments  by 
law  thereto  affixed,  and  excuting  them  upon  his 
person  and  goods,  by  turning  him  over  to  the 
secular  arm  of  justice,  as  a  punishment  to  himself 
and  a  terror  to  others.  And  I  request  that  if  ne- 
cessary, he  may  be  put  to  the  torture,  and  that  the 
same  be  continued  and  repeated  till  he  confess 
the  whole  truth  of  himself  and  others. 

And  I  formally  swear  that  I  do  not  present  this 
accusation  out  of  malice,  but  solely  to  accomplish 
the  ends  of  justice,  which  I  request  at  the  hands 
of  your  Excellency. 

Damian  Fonolleda,  Sec'y. 

The  above  accusation  having  been  presented 
and  read,  the  said  Leonardo  Phelipe  was  formally 
sworn  to  declare  the  truth  in  answer  thereto,  and 
it  being  read  over,  article  by  article,  he  answered 
as  follows. 

To  the  head  of  the  accusation  he  answered, 
that  he  was  the  same  Leonardo  Phelipe  whom  the 
Fiscal  accused,  but  that  he  had  not  committed  any 
offences  against  our  Holy  Catholic  Faith,  nor  de- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  97 

nied  our  Lord,  although  he  had  sometimes  sworn 
by  his  name. 

To  the  first  article  he  answered,  that  he  had 
always  confessed  like  other  Christians,  and  in  Va- 
lencia had  not  suffered  a  year  to  pass  without  do- 
ing so,  and  that  he  had  never  been  excommuni- 
cated on  this  account. 

To  the  second  arlicle  he  answered,  that  he  de- 
nied it,  for  it  was  not  true  that  he  had  no  rosary. 
He  made  use  of  one  in  his  prison  eleven  times,  and 
now  exhibited  the  same  in  his  hands ;  which  I, 
the  Secretary,  testify. 

To  the  third  article  he  answered,  that  he  de- 
nied it,  for  it  was  not  true  ;  and  that  during  the 
said  Passion  Week,  in  the  last  Lent,  he  had  con- 
fessed in  the  convent  of  St  Francisco,  in  Tarrago- 
na ;  that  he  complied  with  the  precepts  of  the 
Church,  as  he  had  stated  in  his  first  audience,  and 
that  this  could  be  shown  by  the  certificate  of  con- 
fession found  upon  him  at  the  time  of  his  impris- 
onment. ' 

To  the  fourth  article  he  answered,  that  he  de- 
nied it,  for  it  was  not  true. 

To  the  fifth  article  he  answered,  that  he  denied 
it ;  that  he  trusted  in  God,  and  a  heretic  could  not 
say  such  things. 

To  the  sixth  article  he  answered,  that  he  de- 
nied it,  for  it  wTas  not  true,  and  he  could  not  im- 
agine how  such  testimony  could  be  borne  against 
him. 

To  the  seventh  article  he  answered,  that  he  had 
not  committed  any  offence  against  our  Holy  Cath- 
13 


98  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

olic  Faith,  nor  knew  that  any  other  persons  had 
committed  offences,  and  that  he  had  declared  the 
entire  truth  and  had  not  perjured  himself. 

To  the  conclusion  of  the  accusation,  he  answered 
that  even  if  he  were  put  to  the  torture  he  could 
say  nothing  more. 

The  above  is  the  truth  according  to  the  oath  of 
the  prisoner,  and  having  been  read,  was  declared 
by  him  to  be  correctly  recorded.  Not  being  able 
to  write,  I,  the  Inquisitor  sign  the  same. 

Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta. 

Before  me — 

Miguel  Rodriguez. 

The  said  Inquisitor  then  ordered  the  prisoner 
to  be  furnished  with  a  copy  of  the  accusation,  that 
he  might  on  the  third  day  make  an  answer  there- 
to with  the  counsel  and  assistance  of  one  of  the 
lawyers  who  defend  cases  in  this  Holy  Office, 
namely,  Dr  Francisco  Magrinya,  and  the  Rector 
of  the  Company  of  Jesus.  He  was  allowed  to  se- 
lect one  of  these  persons  and  made  choice  of  Dr 
Magrinya. 

The  Inquisitor  then  ordered  him  to  be  summon- 
ed, and  the  prisoner  having  been  admonished  to 
bethink  himself,  was  remanded  to  prison. 

Before  me — 

Miguel  Rodriguez. 


audience   to  communicate  the    accusation   and 

PROOF. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barce- 
lona, on  the  twenty  ninth  day  of  May,  one  thousand 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  99 

six  hundred  and  thirtyseven,  the  Inquisitor,  Dr 
Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta  presiding  sole  at  his 
morning  audience,  ordered  the  abovementioned 
Leonardo  Phelipe  to  be  brought  out  of  prison ; 
which  being  done,  he  was 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  relating 
to  his  cause  which  he  was  bound  by  his  oath  to 
divulge. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

He  was  then  informed  that  Dr  Francisco  Ma- 
grinya  was  present,  whom  he  had  chosen  for  his 
advocate,  and  that  he  might  confer  with  him  about 
his  defence.  The  said  Dr  Magrinya  swore  in  ver- 
bo  sacerdotis  to  defend  well  and  faithfully  the  said 
Leonardo  Phelipe  so  far  as  justice  allowed,  to  in- 
form him  if  his  case  was  not  a  good  one,  to  do  all 
which  a  good  advocate  is  bound  to  do,  and  to  pre- 
serve secrecy  in  everything. 

The  confessions  of  the  prisoner  were  then  read, 
together  with  the  accusation  and  his  answers,  and 
the  prisoner  conferred  with  his  advocate  who  ad- 
vised him  as  the  best  means  of  discharging  his 
conscience  and  despatching  his  trial,  to  confess  the 
truth  without  bearing  falsewitness  either  against 
himself  or  any  other  person,  and,  if  he  were  guilty, 
to  beg  pardon,  by  which  he  would  experience 
mercy. 

Answered,  that  he  had  declared  the  truth  in  his 
confessions,  and  denied  the  accusation  so  far  as  it 
went  beyond  this.  He  begged  in  consequence  to 
be  set  at  liberty,  and  to  be  mercifully  dealt  with, 
for  what  he  had  confessed.     He  declared,  that  af- 


100  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

ter  publication  of  the  testimony,  he  should  more 
formally  present  matter  for  his  defence. 

The  Inquisitor  then  ordered  this  to  be  notified 
to  the  Promotor  Fiscal  of  this  Holy  Office,  upon 
which  Mattheo  Magre,  the  senior  Secretary,  acting 
as  Fiscal,  answered,  that  he  accepted  the  confes- 
sions of  the  said  Leonardo  Phelipe,  so  far  as  they 
were  favorable  to  the  accusation,  and  no  farther, 
denying  all  the  rest.  He  requested  that  the  proofs 
might  be  exhibited. 

The  Inquisitor  declared  that  the  cause  should 
be  judged  definitively,  and  the  proofs  received  sal- 
vo jure  impcrtinentium  et  non  admittendorum,  ac- 
cording to  the  style  of  the  Holy  Office.  The  same 
was  notified  to  both  parties. 

The  Promotor  Fiscal  then  stated  that  he  pro- 
duced anew  and  presented  the  testimony  and 
proofs  against  the  said  Leonardo  Phelipe,  receiv- 
ed and  registered  in  the  Holy  Office.  He  request- 
ed that  they  might  be  substantiated  and  ratified  in 
form,  that  all  other  necessary  investigations  might 
be  made  and  the  testimony  published. 

The  prisoner  then  being  exhorted  to  bethink 
himself  and  declare  the  truth,  was  remanded  to 
prison,  which  I,  the  abovementioned  Secretary 
certify. 

Before  me — 

Miguel  Rodriguez. 


AUDIENCE    FOR    PUBLICATION. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  seventeenth  day  of  June,  one  thou- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  101 

sand  six  hundred  and  thirtyseven,  the  Inquisitor, 
Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta  presiding  sole  in  his 
morning  audience,  ordered  the  abovementioned 
Leonardo  Phelipe  to  be  brought  out  of  prison  ; 
which  being  done,  he  was 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  relating 
to  his  affair,  which  he  was  bound  by  his  oath  to 
divulge. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

He  was  then  informed  that  the  Promotor  Fiscal 
of  this  Holy  Office  was  about  to  demand  publica- 
tion of  the  testimony  against  him,  before  which  it 
would  be  well  for  him  to  confess  the  whole  truth, 
by  which  means  his  trial  should  be  despatched  with 
all  brevity  and  mercy. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say/ 

Straightway  appeared  the  Secretary,  Mattheo 
Magre,  who  officiated  as  Fiscal,  and  requested 
publication  of  the  testimony  against  the  said  Leo- 
nardo Phelipe  according  to  the  style  of  the  Holy 
Office.  The  Inquisitor  then  ordered  the  said  pub- 
lication to  be  made,  concealing  the  names  and 
other  circumstances  of  the  witnesses  which  might 
lead  to  a  discovery  of  their  persons,  according  to 
the  instructions  and  style  of  the  Holy  Office. 
[Here  follows  the  publication,  and  the  ansivers  of  the 

prisoner,  corresponding  with  what  has  already  been 

given. ,] 

The  Inquisitor  then  directed  him  to  be  furnished 
with  a  copy  of  the  above  publication,  that  he 
might,  with  the  assistance  of  his  counsel,  reply 
thereto  on  the  third  day.     Whereupon  being  ad- 


102  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

monished  to  bethink  himself  and  declare  the  truth, 
he  was  remanded  to  prison. 
Before  me — 

Miguel  Rodriguez. 


AUDIENCE    TO    COMMUNICATE    THE    PUBLICATION. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barce- 
lona, on  the  twentysecond  day  of  June,  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  thirty  seven,  the  Inquisitor, 
Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta  presiding  sole  in  his 
morning  audience,  ordered  the  above  Leonardo 
Phelipe  to  be  brought  out  of  prison  ;  which  being 
done,  he  was 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  relating 
to  his  affair,  which  he  was  bound  by  his  oath  to 
divulge. 

Answered,  that  by  reason  of  the  troubles  which 
arose  in  his  house,  he  had  sometimes  broken  out 
into  swearing,  saying,  '  the  devil  take  me  if  this  is 
not  true.' 

He  was  then  informed  that  Dr  Francisco  Ma- 
grinya,  his  advocate  was  present,  with  whom  he 
might  communicate  respecting  the  publication, 
and  other  matters  of  his  defence.  The  publica- 
tion and  the  answers  of  the  prisoner,  &c.  were  then 
read  to  the  said  Dr  Francisco  Magrinya,  who  drew 
up  articles  of  defence  upon  a  paper  prepared  by 
the  Secretary.  Here  the  audience  closed,  and 
the  prisoner  being  admonished  to  bethink  himself, 
was  remanded  to  prison. 

Before  me — 

Miguel  Rodriguez. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  103 

AUDIENCE    FOR    THE    DEFENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barce- 
lona, on  the  twentyfifth  day  of  June,  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  thirtyseven,  the  Inquisitor,  Dr 
Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta  presiding  sole  in  his 
morning  audience,  ordered  the  above  Leonardo 
Phelipe  to  be  brought  out  of  prison ;  which  being 
done,  he  was 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  relating 
to  his  affair,  which  he  was  bound  by  his  oath  to 
divulge. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

He  was  then  informed  that  Dr  Francisco  Ma- 
grinya,  his  advocate,  was  present,  and  had  arranged 
his  defence,  which  he  might  examine.  The  said 
Dr  Francisco  Magrinya  then  read  to  him  certain 
articles  which  he  had  drawn  up  in  his  favor,  and 
this  having  been  heard  by  the  prisoner,  he  declar- 
ed that  he  made  a  presentation  of  the  same,  and 
requested  an  examination  of  the  witnesses  named 
in  the  margin,  and  that  the  other  investigations 
referred  to  might  be  made. 


DEFENCE. 
MOST  ILLUSTRIOUS   SIR 

Although  Bernardo  Phelippe,  an  inhabitant  of 
the  city  of  Tarragona  has  no  necessity  for  any  de- 
fence against  the  charges  of  the  Promotor  Fiscal 
of  this  Holy  Office,  yet  the  more  clearly  to  show 
his  innocence,  and  premising  expressly  that  what 
he  declares  against  the  witnesses  is  not  with  an 
intention  to  injure  or  defame  them,  but  solely  to 


104  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

defend  himself,  onere  superfluce  probationis  rejecto, 
he  offers  the  following  : — 

1.  It  is  not  true  that  he  has  abjured,  sworn  or 
blasphemed  the  head  of  God,  or  uttered  any  other 
blasphemies,  which  statement  is  the  truth. 

2.  It  is  not  true  that  he  has  neglected  to  hear 
mass  on  the  Sundays  and  holidays  appointed,  or 
neglected  to  confess  and  take  the  sacrament  every 
year,  or  been  excommunicated  on  such  account ; 
which  is  the  truth. 

3.  The  witnesses  who  depose  against  him, 
turn  all  his  oaths  into  swearing,  '  by  the  head  of 
God,'  which  is  the  truth. 

4.  Even  though,  (quod  expresse  negat)  he  may 
have  at  sometimes  sworn  'by  the  head  of  God,' 
yet  it  was  done  in  the  heat  of  passion,  and  inas- 
much as  tie  jure  primus  motus  non  sit  in  homine,  noth- 
ing bad  can  be  imputed  to  him,  which  is  the  truth. 

5.  In  addition  to  this,  the  above  witnesses  are 
single  witnesses,  disagree  among  themselves,  and 
are   not  deserving  of  credit,  inasmuch  as  non  det 

fides  testibus  singidaribus,  which  is  the  truth. 

6.  The  prisoner,  although  a  Frenchman,  is  still 
a  good  Christian,  and  not  at  all  of  suspicious  faith. 
He  hears  mass  on  the  Sundays  and  holidays  ap- 
pointed, as  many  can  testify  who  have  seen  him ; 
which  is  the  truth. 

7.  He  also  confesses  and  takes  the  sacrament 
every  year  at  Easter,  and  other  times  at  the  hands 
of  the  Guardian  of  the  Convent  of  St  Francisco 
and  the  Sacristan,  as  may  be  seen  by  his  certificate 
of  confession  given  at  the  last  Lent,  and  which  he 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  105 

now  presents  as  a  testimonial  in  his  favor  solely ; 
which  is  the  truth. 

8.  There  is  also  the  same  reason  for  believing 
that  he  has  confessed  on  every  Easter,  as  can  be 
seen  by  the  books  of  confession  kept  by  the  Cu- 
rates; which  is  the  truth. 

9.  He  who  states  one  falsehood  is  not  to  be 
believed  in  any  other  assertion,  and  inasmuch  as 
the  witnesses  against  the  prisoner  affirmed  that  he 
did  not  confess  throughout  the  year,  but  was  ex- 
communicated, and  declared  so,  for  not  com- 
plying with  the  ordinances,  and  that  he  did  not  wear 
a  rosary,  all  which  has  been  shown  to  be  false  by 
his  certificate,  and  the  rosary  found  upon  him;  for 
this  reason  they  cannot  be  believed,  when  they 
state  that  he  does  not  hear  mass,  and  that  he 
swears  and  blasphemes  ;  which  is  the  truth. 

10.  The  prisoner  suspects  that  one  of  the  wit- 
nesses against  him  is  a  young  man  of  about  twenty 
years  of  age,  and  a  mortal  enemy  of  the  prisoner. 
This,  added  to  the  circumstance  of  his  being  a  minor, 
should  cause  his  testimony  to  be  rejected ;  which 
is  the  truth. 

11.  The  testimony  of  the  other  witness  also 
should  be  rejected,  as  he  supposes  this  person  to 
be  his  wife,  who  leads  a  quarrelsome  life  with  him, 
and  bears  him  great  enmity  ;  which  is  the  truth. 

12.  The  prisoner  supposes  that  the  cause  of 
the  misfortune  in  which  he  now  finds  himself,  is, 
his  having  given  his  wife  a  good  beating  on  the 
festival  of  the  Resurrection,  on  which  account  she 


14 


106  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

probably  has  directed  her  malice  against  him,  and 
suborned  the  other  witnesses;  which  is  the  truth. 

13.  The  same  hatred  is  borne  against  him  by 
Joseph  Lleonart,  his  son,  on  account  of  the  prison- 
er's having  pawned  an  anvil,  at  which  his  son  was 
displeased;  which  is  the  truth. 

14.  The  said  Bernardo  Phelippe  is  reputed 
throughout  all  the  city  of  Tarragona  to  be  an  hon- 
est man  and  a  good  Christian,  attending  mass  at 
the  church  with  much  punctuality  on  the  days  ap- 
pointed, and  confessing  and  taking  the  sacrament 
at  the  proper  time,  as  proved  by  his  certificate ; 
which  is  the  truth. 

15.  The  said  Bernardo  Phelippe  has  never 
been  imprisoned  or  punished  by  this  or  any  other 
tribunal;  which  is  the  truth. 

16.  From  all  which  it  appears  that  the  said 
Phelippe  is  free  from  all  the  offences  charged  upon 
him,  and  ought  to  be  absolved  and  released  from 
the  prison  in  which  he  is  confined,  experiencing 
mercy,  which  also  would  be  justice,  vel  alias  omni 
meliori  modo  quod  de  jure  sibi  adaptari  valeat,  et  ver- 
um. 

17.  Ponit  quod  omnia  et  singula  sunt  vera,  super 
quibus  jus  diei  et  justitiam  ministrari  postulate  et 
verum. 

F.   Magrinya. 

The  Inquisitor  ordered  the  above  to  be  placed 
among  the  proceedings  of  the  trial,  and  declared 
that  he  was  ready  to  make  the  necessary  investi- 
gations. Whereupon  the  prisoner,  being  admon- 
ished, was  remanded  to  prison. 

Before  me —  Miguel  Rodriguez. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  107 

TO  THE  CANON  JOAN  FERRER,   COMMISSARY. 

Leonardo  Phelipe,  needlemaker,  an  inhabitant 
of  this  city,  and  now  in  the  secret  prison  of  this 
Holy  Office,  on  account  of  an  action  brought 
against  him  by  the  Licentiate  Don  Andres  Panya- 
gua,  Fiscal  of  this  Inquisition,  has  presented  in 
his  defence  the  following  articles  or  interrogatives, 
namely — 

1.  That  the  said  Leonardo  Phelipe,  although 
a  Frenchman,  yet  is  a  good  Christian,  and  not  in 
anything  to  be  suspected  of  Lutheranism  or  any 
other  heresy  ;  that  as  such,  he  hears  mass  every 
Sunday  and  holiday  prescribed,  as  can  be  proved 
by  many  witnesses. 

2.  That  he  also  confesses  and  takes  the  sacra- 
ment every  year,  at  Easter  and  other  times,  as 
can  be  shown  by  his  certificate  of  confession  re- 
ceived during  last  Lent,  and  which  he  exhibits  in 
his  defence. 

3.  That  the  wife  of  the  said  Leonardo  Phelipe 
treats  him  badly,  and  bears  him  great  hatred,  and 
has  brought  him  into  this  trouble  because  he  gave 
her  a  good  beating  on  the  festival  of  the  Resur- 
rection last,  which  greatly  increased  her  hatred 
towards  him. 

4.  That  the  same  enmity  is  borne  towards  him 
by  Joseph  Leonardo,  his  son,  with  whom  he  had 
an  altercation  on  account  of  his  having  pawned 
an  anvil  against  the  inclination  of  his  son,  for 
which  reason  he  concerted  with  his  mother  this 
proceeding  against  the  prisoner. 


108  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

5.  That  the  said  Leonardo  Phelipe  is  reputed 
•throughout  all  the  city  of  Tarragona  to  be  an  hon- 
est man,  and  a  good  Christian,  attending  church 
punctually  to  hear  mass  on  the  days  appointed, 
and  confessing  and  taking  the  sacrament  at  the 
proper  times. 

On  which  account  you  will,  on  the  reception  of 
this,  proceed  to  collect  information  respecting  the 
matter  contained  in  the  above  interrogatives,  in 
favor  of  the  said  Leonardo  Phelipe,  examining  the 
witnesses  named  in  the  margin  opposite  each  ar- 
ticle, which  is  to  be  done  in  the  presence  of  the 
Notary,  with  the  other  legal  formalities,  and  ac- 
cording to  the  printed  formula  held  by  the  com- 
missaries. You  will  also  take  a  copy  of  the  re- 
gister in  the  church  records  referred  to  in  the  se- 
cond article.  All  which  being  done,  you  will  for- 
ward the  proceedings,  sealed,  with  all  brevity  to 
our  hands. 

For  the  above  undertaking  we  grant  you  full 
power  and  commission  in  form.  God  preserve 
you. 

Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta. 

The  Inquisitor  presiding  alone. 

Miguel  Rodriguez. 

Barcelona,  June  25th,  1637. 


In  the  city  of  Tarragona,  on  the  eighteenth  day 
of  July,  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  thirtyseven, 
before  the  illustrious  Juan  Ferrer,  Presbyter  Ca- 
non of  the  Holy  Church  of  Tarragona,  Commissary 
of  the  Holy  Office  of  the  Inquisition,  and  by  par- 
ticular commission  from  the  most  illustrious   In- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  109 

quisitors  Apostolical  of  the  Principality  of  Catalo- 
nia, appeared  according  to  summons,  and  swore 
formally  to  declare  the  truth,  a  person  calling  him- 
self Father  Pablo  Morer,  Guardian  of  the  Monas- 
tery and  Convent  of  St  Francisco  in  Tarragona, 
of  age,  as  he  stated,  fortysix  years  or  thereabout. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the 
cause  of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  No. 

Questioned,  if  any  one  had  attempted  to  per- 
suade him  to  speak  in  favor  of  any  person  impris- 
oned by  the  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  No. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  the  Fiscal  of  the  Holy 
Office,  or  Leonardo  Felipe  of  the  city  of  Tarrago- 
na imprisoned  by  the  Holy  Office  of  the  Inquisition. 

Answered,  that  he  knew  neither  of  them. 

He  was  then  informed  that  the  said  Felipe  pre- 
sented him  as  a  witness  in  his  defence,  in  a  case 
brought  against  him  by  the  Fiscal  of  the  Holy  Of- 
fice. He  was  directed  to  give  attention  while  cer- 
tain questions  were  put  to  him,  and  declare  the 
whole  truth. 

To  the  second  question  he  answered  that  he 
knew  nothing  of  the  matter,  respecting  which  he 
was  questioned,  as  he  was  not  acquainted  with  the 
person.  To  the  last  question,  he  answered  that 
what  he  had  stated  was  the  truth,  and  it  being 
read,  was  declared  by  him  to  be  correctly  record- 
ed.    He  promised  secrecy  and  signed  his  name. 

Pablo  Morer. 

Before  me — 

Miguel  Gibert,  Nothj  of  Tarragona. 


110  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

In  the  city  of  Tarragona,  on  the  day,  month,  and 
year  above  specified,  before  the  illustrious  Juan 
Ferrer,  Presbyter,  Commissary,  &c.  appeared  ac- 
cording to  summons  and  swore  to  declare  the  truth, 
a  person  calling  himself  Father  Nicholas  Gil,  of 
the  convent  of  St  Francisco  in  this  city,  of  age, 
as  he  stated,  fortyfour  years  or  thereabout. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the 
cause  of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  No. 

Questioned,  if  any  one  had  attempted  to  per- 
suade him  to  speak  in  favor  of  any  person  impris- 
oned by  the  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  No. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  the  Fiscal  of  the  Holy 
Office,  or  Leonardo  Felipe,  needlemaker,  of  this 
city,  now  in  imprisonment  by  the  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  that  he  had  no  knowledge  of  the 
Fiscal,  but  knew  the  said  Leonardo  Felipe,  and 
had  held  dealings  with  him. 

He  was  then  informed  that  the  abovementioned 
Leonardo  Felipe  presented  him  as  a  witness  in  a 
case  brought  against  him  by  the  said  Fiscal.  He 
was  directed  to  give  attention  while  certain  ques- 
tions were  put  to  him,  and  declare  the  whole 
truth. 

To  the  second  question,  he  answered  that  he  re- 
membered to  have  heard  the  confession  of  the  said 
Leonardo  Felipe  once  only  during  last  Lent,  but 
could  not  remember  whether  he  gave  him  a  certifi- 
cate or  not. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  Ill 

The  above  is  the  truth  according  to  the  oath  of 
the  deponent,  and  having  been  read,  was  declared 
by  him  to  be  correctly  recorded.  He  promised 
secrecy  and  signed  his  name 

Pr.  Nicola  Gil. 
Before  me — 
Miguel  Gibert,  Nothj  Public  of  Tarragona. 

[Here  follow  the  depositions  in  the  same  form  with 
the  preceding,  of  various  other  witnesses  in  favor 
of  the  prisoner,  relating  to  matters  alleged  by  him 
in  his  defence.'] 


AUDIENCE    FOR    CONCLUDING    THE    TRIAL. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barce- 
lona, on  the  twentyseventh  day  of  June,  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  thirtyseven,  the  Inquisitors, 
Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta  and  the  Licentiate 
Don  Bias  Alexandre  de  Lezaeta  presiding  in  their 
afternoon  audience,  ordered  the  abovementioned 
Leonardo  Phelipe  to  be  brought  out  of  prison, 
which  being  done,  he  was 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  which 
he  was  bound  by  his  oath  to  declare. 

Answered,  that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

Dr  FranciscoM  agrinya,  the  prisoner's  advocate, 
being  present,  he  was  informed  that  the  investiga- 
tions requested  by  him,  had  been  made,  and  if  he 
wished  the  cause  to  be  decided,  it  should  be  done, 
or  if  he  wished  other  measures  to  be  taken,  to 
state  them,  and  all  should  be  done  which  justice 
permitted.    Whereupon  the  said  Leonardo  Phelipe, 


112  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

by  the  advice  of  his  counsel,  answered  that  he 
concluded  definitively,  and  begged  a  merciful 
sentence. 

The  Inquisitors  then  ordered  the  same  to  be 
notified  to  the  Promotor  Fiscal  of  this  Holy  Of- 
ffice,  in  order  that  a  conclusion  might  be  made  on 
the  third  day.  Whereupon  the  prisoner  was  re- 
manded to  prison. 

Before  me — 

Miguel  Rodriguez. 

The  above  order  for  conclusion  was  forthwith 
notified  to  the  Licentiate  Don  Andres  Paniagua, 
Fiscal,  by  me,  the  Secretary, 

Rodriguez. 


SENTENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barce- 
lona, on  the  twentyeighth  day  of  July,  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  thirtyseven,  the  Inquisi- 
tors, Dr  Domingo  Abbad  y  Huerta,  and  the  Licen- 
tiate Don  Bias  Alexandre  de  Lezaeta  presiding  in 
their  morning  audience,  (the  Ordinary  not  attend- 
ing by  reason  of  the  Cabildo  of  Tarragona  having 
neglected  to  appoint  one  to  this  office  sede  vacante, 
although  notified  to  this  end,  and  the  term  of 
eight  days  having  expired)  having  examined  the 
proceedings  carried  on  in  the  Holy  Office  against 
Leonardo  Phelipe,  a  Frenchman  by  birth,  and  a 
needlemaker  by  occupation,  a  native  of  the  village 
of  Agullon,  in  the  bishopric  of  Genes,  and  an  in- 
habitant of  the  city  of  Tarragona,  now  in  the  se- 
cret prison  of  this  Holy  Office, — 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  113 

Ordered,  unanimously,  that  this  trial,  without 
any  other  sentence,  be  suspended,  and  remain  as 
it  is  at  present. 

Before  me — 

Miguel  Rodriguez,  Secly. 


TRIAL  OF  DON  ANTONIO  ADORNO, 

FOR  NECROMANTICAL    PRACTICES. 

In  the  city  of  Valencia,  on  the  thirteenth  day 
of  April,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fiftysix, 
before  Dr  Lorenzo  Ballester,  Presbyter,  Confessor 
to  the  secret  prison  of  the  Holy  Office,  and  be- 
fore the  Extraordinary  Commissary  for  this  inves- 
tigation, appeared  voluntarily,  and  made  oath  to 
declare  the  truth,  and  preserve  secrecy,  a  person 
calling  himself  Joaquim  Gil,  scrivener,  residing 
in  the  house  of  Felipe  Matheu  in  the  Calle  del 
Mar  of  this  city,  a  native  of  Puebla  de  Arenoso, 
in  this  archbishopric,  of  age,  as  he  stated,  twenty- 
four  years. 

Questioned,  why  he  had  demanded  an  audi- 
ence. 

Answered,  that  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
information   to  the   Holy  Office  respecting  a  cer- 
tain soldier  of  the  regiment  of  Asturias  in   the 
garrison  of  this  city.     This  person  was  called  Don 
15 


114  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Antonio,  and  was  by  birth  a  Neapolitan,  a  robust, 
middle  sized  man,  with  a  dark  complexion,  and 
about  twentyfour  or  twentyfive  years  of  age, 
which  was  all  the  description  the  deponent  could 
give.  On  the  evening  of  the  eleventh  of  the 
present  month,  the  deponent  and  the  abovemen- 
tioned  Felipe  Matheu  were  in  company  with  five 
soldiers  at  the  house  of  the  said  Matheu.  Among 
these  was  the  abovenamed  Don  Antonio,  and  this 
person  declared  in  conversation  with  the  depo- 
nent that  he  possessed  the  faculty  of  discovering 
the  thief  when  a  thing  was  stolen.  This  he  had 
performed  in  the  following  manner.  On  a  certain 
occasion  one  of  his  friends  was  lamenting  the  loss 
of  some  money  which  had  been  stolen  from  him, 
when  he,  the  said  Don  Antonio,  replied,  that  he 
would  discover  the  thief.  He  then  wrote  the 
names  of  all  the  persons  present  upon  separate 
pieces  of  paper,  and  threw  them  into  the  fire. 
Those  which  contained  the  names  of  the  innocent 
were  consumed,  but  the  one  containing  that  of 
the  thief  remained.  Nobody  was  able  to  take  this 
out  of  the  fire  except  Don  Antonio.  The  paper  was 
kept  from  consuming  by  the  power  of  the  words 
Christo  Senor  Nuestro,  uttered  by  him,  and  it  was 
drawn  out  from  among  the  coals  by  the  help  of  this 
expression  ;  ''Ego  sum.  Factus  est  homo.  Consum- 
matum  est.7  Besides  this  he  knew  another  way 
of  practising  this  divination  ;  and  this  was  to  col- 
lect the  ashes  made  by  the  papers,  and  rub  them 
on  the  back  of  his  hand,  where  they  would  leave 
marked  the  name  of  the  thief.     Furthermore  he 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  1  15 

stated  that  he  possessed  another  method  of  ac- 
complishing this  purpose,  but  this  he  did  not  ex- 
plain. 

This  conversation  having  been  heard  by  the 
abovementioned  Felipe  Matheu,  he  rebuked  Don 
Antonio,  and  this  last  replied  that  what  he  had 
done  he  would  repeat  even  before  the  Inquisitors, 
or,  if  that  was  of  any  consequence,  after  commu- 
nion, inasmuch  as  he  used  the  words  which  had 
been  uttered  by  Christ.  Proceeding  in  the  con- 
versation with  the  deponent,  he  told  him  that  he 
had  some  instruments  in  his  pocket  which  were  use- 
ful for  many  things.  He  then  drew  from  his  right 
pocket  a  paper  folded  up  and  containing  two  or 
three  coils  of  something  which  the  deponent  did 
not  see  distinctly,  on  account  of  the  darkness,  but 
felt  and  handled  them.  The  deponent  asked  Don 
Antonio  where  he  had  obtained  the  above  know- 
ledge. He  replied  that  he  had  got  it  by  studying 
a  book  of  magic  which  he  possessed  ;  that  he  had 
learned  from  this  the  secret  of  making  himself  in- 
visible, and  also  to  render  a  man  invulnerable  to 
thrusts  with  a  sword,  a  trial  of  which  last  he  would 
make  upon  a  dog  or  cat  and  show  the  efficacy  of 
it.  The  deponent  asked  him  if  he  knew  any  se- 
crets relative  to  playing  at  ball.  He  answered  that 
he  did  not  remember  any  at  present,  but  would 
make  some  researches  and  call  upon  the  deponent 
at  his  house,  when  he  would  teach  him  a  secret 
to  gain  the  favor  of  the  ladies.  This  was  agreed 
to,  and  the  deponent  described  the  house  to  him. 
He  offered  him  money  if  he  would  discover  all  his 


116  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

arts,  which  he  did  for  the  purpose  of  laying  the 
whole  before  the  Holy  Office  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Catholic  Faith. 

Questioned,  if  any  other  persons  heard  the  above 
conversation,  or  knew  anything  relating  to  it. 

Answered,  that  the  abovementioned  Felipe 
Matheu  heard  a  great  part  of  it,  as  also  Joseph 
Masquef,  scrivener,  who  lived  in  the  same  house, 
Joseph  Jordan,  a  servant,  and  two  Alguacils,  a 
father  and  son,  who  were  in  the  company,  and 
whose  names  he  did  not  know. 

Questioned,  if  he  had  made  this  declaration  out 
of  any  malice  which  he.  bore  to  the  said  Don  An- 
tonio. 

Answered,  that  he  had  made  it  solely  from  the 
impulse  of  his  conscience,  and  because  he  believ- 
ed the  above  things  were  contrary  to  our  Holy 
Faith.  He  affirmed  that  the  whole  was  the  truth, 
promised  secrecy,  and  signed  his  name. 

Joaquim  Gil. 

Before  me — 

Dr  Joseph  Montes, 
Presbyter  Notary  of  the  Holy  Office. 


In  the  city  of  Valencia,  on  the  seventeenth  day 
of  April,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fiftysix, 
before  Dr  Lorenzo  Ballester,  Confessor  to  the  se- 
cret prison  of  the  Holy  Office  and  Extraordinary 
Commissary  for  this  investigation,  appeared  vol- 
untarily and  made  oath  to  declare  the  truth,  and 
preserve  secrecy,  Joaquim  Gil,  &c. 

Questioned,  why  he  had  demanded  an  audience. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  117 

Answered,  on  account  of  the  declaration  made 
by  him  before  the  present  Commissary  respecting 
a  certain  Don  Antonio,  of  the  company  of  Don 
Jorge  Duran,  in  the  regiment  of  Asturias.  This 
man,  in  addition  to  the  peculiarities  of  his  per- 
son before  described,  had  a  scar  above  his  left 
eyebrow,  apparently  the  effect  of  a  wound,  and  a 
dint  of  the  size  of  a  filbert  in  the  top  of  his  fore- 
head, with  black  and  rather  short  hair.  He  came 
to  the  house  of  the  deponent  on  the  fifteenth  of 
this  month  according  to  agreement,  and  after  some 
conversation  gave  him  a  strip  of  parchment,  about 
a  finger's  breadth  wide  and  above  a  span  long, 
this  was  slit  through  the  middle  lengthwise  and 
had  written  on  it  the  following  words.  '  Ego  + 
sum.  Exe  +  homo  consummation  est.  Ego  Juagi- 
nus  Aprecor  Dominum  Nostri  Jesu  Christi  in  vitam 
eternam  seculi  secidorum  libera  me  de  omnibus  rebus 
de  ignis  cautius  et  omnia  instrumenta  hominum  de- 
tentat  me  hac  die  hac  nocte  custote  rege  et  cuberna 
me  Amen.  This  was  rolled  up  in  lead  with  a 
small  piece  of  bone,  and  Don  Antonio  told  him  to 
wear  it  in  the  shape  of  a  cross,  next  to  his  skin, 
near  the  heart,  and  it  would  shield  him  effectually 
from  all  thrusts  with  a  sword.  It  was  exhibited 
by  the  deponent. 

He  also  gave  him  another  strip  of  parchment 
of  half  a  finger  in  breadth,  and  above  two  yards 
long.  At  one  extremity  was  drawn  with  ink  a  leg 
and  foot,  and  at  the  other  a  heart  with  a  cross 
above  it.  Other  figures  and  letters  were  drawn  in 
different  parts.     With  this  he  proceeded  to  take 


118  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

divers  measurements  upon  the  body  of  the  depo- 
nent, as,  from  one  shoulder  to  the  other,  from  the 
shoulder  to  the  chin  and  nose,  &x.  This  he  in- 
formed him  would  secure  him  from  being  wound- 
ed, if  he  used  it  in  the  following  manner.  He  was 
to  rub  it  with  the  wax  which  dripped  from  the 
tapers  burnt  during  the  celebration  of  mass.  This 
was  to  be  done  on  nine  several  days  during  mass, 
keeping  it  under  his  cloak,  and  taking  care  that 
no  one  saw  him.  Afterwards  it  was  to  be  worn  in 
the  shape  of  a  cross,  next  the  skin,  near  the  heart. 
He  gave  him  at  the  same  time  three  bits  of  parch- 
ment, each  about  three  fingers'  breadth  long  and 
one  wide.  Two  of  these  contained  each  two  lines 
of  writing,  and  the  other  three.  They  were  several- 
ly numbered  on  the  back,  1,  2,  3.  To  these  were 
added  another,  very  small,  also  written  over. 

He  informed  him  that  by  the  help  of  these  he 
could  perform  any  kind  of  divination,  and  that  if 
he  wore  the  thinnest  of  these  parchments  upon  his 
left  little  finger,  under  a  white  stone  set  in  a  ring, 
he  would  be  directed  by  it  in  the  following  manner. 
Whenever  the  stone  turned  red,  he  might  play  at 
any  game  which  was  going  on,  except  dice  or 
quillas,  and  be  sure  to  gain  ;  but  if  the  stone  turn- 
ed black,  he  would  lose  by  playing.  Before  any 
such  use,  however,  was  made  of  the  parchments, 
he  was  directed  to  put  them  in  the  shoe  of  his 
left  foot,  near  the  ankle,  and  to  sprinkle  them 
with  the  water  used  by  the  priest  at  mass.  These 
parchments  were  also  exhibited. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  119 

The  deponent  requested  Don  Antonio  to  show 
him  the  book  of  magic  which  he  had  mentioned, 
but  he  declined,  alleging  that  the  deponent  could 
not  read  nor  understand  it. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew,  or  had  heard  that  the 
said  Don  Antonio  Adorno  had  any  temporary  in- 
sanity, or  was  given  to  wine,  and  if  any  other 
person  was  present  during  the  last  conversation. 

Answered,  that  he  knew  not  whether  he  was 
subject  to  any  such  irregularities,  and  that  no  oth- 
er person  was  present  during  their  last  interview 
He  declared  that  the  whole  of  the  declaration  was 
the  truth,  and  not  uttered  by  him  from  malice  or 
ill  feeling,  but  solely  in  obedience  to  his  con- 
science and  oath.  Secrecy  was  promised  by  him, 
and  he  added  his  signature. 

Joaquim  Gil. 

Before  me — 

Dr  Joseph  Montes,  Presbyter  Notary 

of  the  Holy  Office. 


In  the  city  of  Valencia,  on  the  fourteenth  day 
of  April,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fiftysix, 
before  Dr  Lorenzo  Ballester,  Presbyter,  Confes- 
sor of  the  secret  prison  of  the  Holy  Office,  ap- 
peared, according  to  summons,  and  made  oath  to 
declare  the  truth  and  preserve  secrecy,  Joseph 
Sanches  Masquefa,  scrivener,  residing  in  the 
house  of  Felipe  Matheu,  scrivener,  of  this  city,  a 
native  of  the  city  of  Origuela,  of  age,  as  he  stat 
ed,  nineteen  years. 


120  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the  cause 
of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  he  did  not  know,  but  supposed  it 
to  be  for  the  purpose  of  learning  what  he  had 
heard  of  a  conversation  in  which  a  certain  soldier 
of  the  regiment  of  Asturias,  in  the  garrison  of  this 
city,  was  engaged  ;  this  person,  who,  as  he  had 
been  informed  was  named  Don  Antonio  *  *  *  and 
was  by  birth  a  Neapolitan,  was  of  a  middling  height, 
somewhat  full  faced,  dark  complexioned,  and 
about  twenty  or  twentytwo  years  of  age.  Cn  the 
evening  of  the  eleventh  of  the  present  month,  dis- 
coursing upon  various  subjects,  this  person  re- 
marked that  he  was  acquainted  with  several  arts, 
and  in  particular  knew  one  by  which  he  could  as- 
certain who  was  the  thief  when  a  theft  had  been 
committed,  and  which  he  had  practised  on  the 
following  occasion.  A  soldier  of  his  regiment  had 
stolen  two  or  three  dollars  from  another,  at  which 
the  sergeant  was  expressing  his  displeasure,  and 
Don  Antonio  told  him  that  if  he  would  promise 
no  harm  should  ensue  to  the  thief  or  himself,  he 
would  discover  who  had  stolen  it.  This  the  ser- 
geant agreed  to,  and  Don  Antonio  wrote  the  names 
of  all  who  were  suspected  of  the  theft  upon  pieces 
of  paper.  These  he  put  into  the  fire,  where  they 
were  all  consumed  except  the  one  bearing  the 
name  of  the  thief.  This  was  seen  by  all  present,  and 
some  of  them  endeavoured  to  snatch  it  from  the 
flames  but  were  unable.  Don  Antonio  alone  was 
able  to  perform   this  action,  and  when  the  name 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  121 

of  the  thief  was  read,  he  was  searched  and  the 
money  found  in  his  stockings. 

This  relation  having  been  listened  to  by  Felipe 
Matheu,  he  asserted  that  the  thing  could  not  be 
done  unless  by  a  league  with  the  devil,  and  that 
it  was  a  matter  which  ought  to  be  laid  before  the 
Inquisition.  Don  Antonio  replied  that  it  was  an 
action  which  he  should  not  hesitate  to  perform 
immediately  after  confession  and  communion,  for  it 
was  done  by  uttering  words  that  had  been  spoken  by 
Christ ;  that  is  to  say,  '  Ego  sum,  Christus  f actus  est 
homo,  consummciium  est,''  expressions  which  were 
good  and  holy.  A  conversation  then  ensued  in 
Italian,  between  Don  Antonio  and  Joseph  ***  a 
servant  in  the  house  of  Felipe  Matheu,  which  was 
not  understood  by  the  deponent.  The  conversa- 
tion was  broken  off  by  the  said  Matheu. 

Questioned,  if  any  other  persons  were  present 
at  this  conversation,  besides  those  already  named. 

Answered,  that  there  were  also  present  Joseph 
Gil,  a  scrivener,  in  the  same  house,  two  Alguacils, 
one  of  whom  was  named  Alba,  and  three  soldiers 
of  the  regiment  abovementioned,  whose  names  he 
did  not  know. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  whether  the  said  Don 
Antonio  was  subject  to  any  occasional  insanity,  or 
was  given  to  wine. 

Answered,  that  he  knew  not  of  his  being  sub- 
ject to  any  such  irregularities,  and  that  the  above 
conversation  was  maintained  on  his  part  with 
much  seriousness.  The  above  is  the  substance  of 
what  is  known  to  him  respecting  the  matter,  and 
16 


122 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 


not  related  from  malice  toward  the  said  Don  An- 
tonio, but  solely  according  to  his  conscience  and 
oath.  It  was  read  in  his  hearing  and  declared  by 
him  to  be  the  truth.  Secrecy  was  enjoined  upon 
him,  which  he  promised,  and  added  his  signature. 
Joseph  Sanchez  y  Masquefa. 
Before  me — 

Joseph  Monte s,  Presbyter  Notary 

of  the  Holy  Office. 
[Here  follow,  in    the    original,    the    depositions 
of  the  other  witnesses  mentioned   above  as  present 
on    the    occasion.      These    are   omitted,  as  they  do 
but  repeat  what  has  been  already  related.] 


CALIFICACION. 

In  the  Holy  Office  of  the  Inquisition  of  Valen- 
cia, on  the  seventeenth  day  of  May,  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  fiftysix,  the  Inquisitor,  Dr  Don 
Inigo  Ortiz  de  la  Pena  being  at  his  morning  audi- 
ence, in  which  he  presided  alone,  there  appeared 
the  Calificadores,  Padre  Francisco  Siges,  of  the 
Order  of  Mercy,  Padre  Antonio  Mira,  Jesuit,  Ex- 
Rector  of  the  college  of  San  Pablo,  Padre  Juan 
Bautista  Llopis,  of  the  Order  of  Mercy,  and  Padre 
Augustin  de  Vinaros,  Ex-Provincial  of  the  Con- 
vent of  Capuchins,  who,  having  conferred  togeth- 
er respecting  the  acts  and  assertions  now  to  be 
specified,  qualified  them  in  the  following  manner, 
viz. 

1st.  The  person  in  question,  in  the  presence  of 
many  others,  on  the  night  of  a  certain  day  which 
is  named,  declared  that  he  possessed  the  power 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  123 

when  anything  was  stolen,  to  ascertain  who  was 
the  thief;  and  in  proof  of  this,  the  said  person,  on 
the  same  occasion  declared  that  in  a  former  in- 
stance, when  a  quantity  of  money  had  been  stolen, 
and  search  was  making  for  the  thief,  he  offered, 
upon  the  condition  that  no  harm  should  ensue  to 
him  or  the  culprit,  to  find  him  out ;  which  being 
agreed  to,  he  wrote  the  names  of  those  whom  he 
suspected  of  the  theft  upon  papers  and  put  them 
in  a  fire,  when  those  containing  the  names  of 
the  innocent  were  consumed,  and  that  of  the 
guilty  one  remained.  He  then  uttered  certain 
words,  which  signified  '  Christ  our  Lord,''  by  vir- 
tue of  which  the  name  of  the  delinquent  was  pre- 
served from  burning.  And  by  virtue  of  these 
words,  £  Ego  sum ;  f actus  est  Homo ;  consummatum 
est?  the  paper  was  drawn  from  the  fire.  The  name 
of  the  thief  was  then  read,  and  the  money  found 
upon  him  within  his  stockings. 

Declared  unanimously  that  this  contains  a  pro- 
fession of  superstitious  necromancy,  and  a  practice  of 
the  same,  with  the  effects  following ;  also  an  abuse 
of  the  sacred  scripture. 

2d.  The  assertions  in  the  above  article  having 
been  listened  to,  it  was  replied  to  this  person  that 
the  thing  could  not  be  done  without  some  pact 
with  the  devil,  to  which  he  answered  that  it  was 
so  honest  and  just  a  deed  that  he  would  perform 
it  immediately  after  confession  and  communion, 
and  even  before  the  Inquisitors,  inasmuch  as  it 
was  done  by  repeating  the  words  of  Christ,  which 
were  the  Latin  expressions  given  in  the  first  arti- 


1  24  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

cle.  It  was  repeated  that  the  thing  could  not  be 
done  in  this  manner,  and  that  it  ought  to  be  de- 
nounced to  the  Inquisition  ;  whereupon  this  per- 
son persisted  in  his  assertions.  He  also  stated 
that  he  knew  another  way  of  performing  the  same 
kind  of  divination,  which  was  by  collecting  the 
ashes  made  by  burning  the  papers,  and  rubbing 
them  upon  the  back  of  his  hand,  where  they  would 
leave  impressed  the  name  of  the  culprit.  He  fur- 
thermore asserted  that  he  knew  another  method, 
which  he  did  not  explain. 

Declared  unanimously  that  this  contains  a  con- 
firmation of  the  preceding,  ivith  a  heretical  assertion, 
and  a  new  profession  of  necromancy. 

3d.  The  same  person  continuing  the  above 
conversation,  asserted  that  he  possessed  certain 
instruments  which  were  useful  for  many  things, 
and  proceeded  to  take  from  his  right  breeches' 
pocket  a  paper  containing  three  or  four  folds  of 
something,  which  were  not  distinctly  seen  by  rea- 
son of  the  night.  And  it  being  demanded  of  him 
where  he  had  learned  his  arts,  he  replied  that  he 
had  obtained  them  from  a  book  of  magic  in  his  pos- 
session, which  taught  him  how  to  do  whatever  he 
desired. 

Declared  unanimously  that  this  contains  another 
profession  like  that  already  qualified. 

4th.  He  declared  to  the  person  to  whom  the 
above  assertions  were  made,  that  out  of  the  above- 
mentioned  book  he  could  acquire  the  art  of  mak- 
ing himself  invisible  ;  also  that  in  this  manner  a 
man  could  be  made  invulnerable  to  the  thrust  of 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  125 

a  sword  ;  in  proof  of  which  he  would  make  trial 
upon  the  body  of  a  dog  or  cat,  that  they  might 
see  the  truth  of  it. 

Declared  unanimously  that  this  contairis  a  new 
profession  of  necromancy. 

5th.  The  person  who  bore  witness  to  these 
proceedings  having  asked  him  whether  he  knew 
any  art  respecting  playing  at  ball,  he  replied  that 
he  did  not  at  present,  but  would  make  researches 
and  come  to  the  house  of  the  above  person,  where 
he  would  teach  him  other  arts  which  he  knew,  to 
gain  the  favor  of  the  ladies.  This  was  agreed  up- 
on, and  this  person  gave  him  directions  to  find  his 
house,  offering  him  money  if  he  would  make  these 
disclosures  to  him,  all  with  a  view  to  give  infor- 
mation of  the  same  to  the  Holy  Office,  in  order 
to  purify  our  Holy  Faith,  and  extirpate  everything 
contrary  thereto. 

Declared  unanimously  that  this  contains  a  pro- 
fession of  necromancy  qualified  as  above,  with  the 
addition  of  an  amatory  necromantical  practice. 

6th.  Some  days  after  this,  in  consequence  of 
the  above  agreement,  he  went  to  the  said  per- 
son's house,  where  he  gave  him  a  strip  of  parch- 
ment about  a  finger's  breadth  wide,  and  a  span 
long,  slit  through  the  middle  and  united  at  the 
extremity,  on  which  was  written  the  following. 
'■Ego  +  sum,  Exe  -f  Homo,  consummatum  +  est, 
Ego  Joaquinus  Aprecor  Domini  nostri  Jesu  Christi 
in  vitam  eternam  seculi  seculorum,  libera  me  de  om- 
nibus rebus,  de  ignis  cautus  et  omnia  instrumenta  ho- 
minum  detenta  me  ach  die,  ach  node,  custode  rege  et 


126  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

gubername  anient  This  was  rolled  up  within  a  piece 
of  lead  and  a  portion  of  bone,  and,  according  to 
his  direction,  was  to  be  worn  next  the  skin,  near 
the  arm,  in  the  shape  of  a  cross.  This  would,  as  he 
asserted,  secure  the  wearer  against  any  thrusts 
with  a  sword.     The  articles  have  been  exhibited. 

Declared  unanimously  that  this  contains  a  prac- 
tice with  instruments  of  superstitious  necromancy, 
added  to  a  doctrine  for  their  application  ivhich  is 
abusive  of  the  sacred  scripture  and  insulting  to  the 
holy  cross. 

7th.  On  the  same  occasion,  he  gave  to  this  per- 
son another  piece  of  parchment,  half  a  finger's 
breadth  wide,  and  above  two  yards  long,  at  one 
end  of  which  was  drawn  with  ink  a  leg  and  foot, 
and  at  the  other  a  heart  surmounted  by  a  cross, 
with  other  figures  and  letters  in  different  parts. 
With  this  he  took  divers  measures  upon  the  body 
of  the  person  abovementioned,  from  one  shoulder 
to  the  other,  from  the  shoulder  to  the  chin  and 
nose,  from  the  chin  to  the  stomach,  measuring  al- 
so the  face,  which  he  informed  him  was  done  to 
secure  him  from  wounds.  He  directed  him  to  rub 
it  over  with  the  wax  which  dripped  from  the  tapers 
burnt  during  the  celebration  of  mass.  This  was  to 
be  done  on  nine  several  days,  and  the  operation 
was  to  be  concealed  from  view  by  his  cloak.  The 
parchment  was  exhibited. 

Declared  unanimously,  that  this  contains  an  ad- 
ditional professioyi  of  necromancy,  with  an  exhibition 
of  additional  necromantical  instruments,  and  the  meth- 
od of  using  them,  added  to  an  insult  to  the  holy  sac- 
rifice of  the  mass  and  the  holy  cross. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  127 

8th.  On  the  same  occasion,  he  gave  to  this 
person  three  bits  of  parchment  three  fingers' 
breadth  long,  and  one  wide  each ;  two  of  them 
containing  each  two  lines  of  writing,  and  the  other 
three,  all  numbered  on  the  back ;  also  another 
written  parchment.  He  directed  him  to  wear  the 
thinnest  of  these  pieces  on  the  little  finger  of  his 
left  hand,  under  a  white  stone  set  in  a  ring,  and  in- 
formed him  that  when  this  stone  turned  red  he 
might  play  at  any  game  except  dice  or  las  quillas, 
with  a  certainty  of  winning,  but  if  it  should  turn 
black  he  was  to  abstain  from  playing.  The  parch- 
ments abovementioned  were,  before  this  was  done, 
to  be  placed  inside  his  right  shoe,  next  the  ancle, 
and  sprinkled  with  the  Holy  Water  used  at  mass, 
after  which  they  were  to  be  worn  next  the  heart. 
The  parchments  were  exhibited. 

Declared  unanimously,  that  this  contains  an  addi- 
tional profession  and  doctrine  of  superstitious  necro- 
mancy, with  an  additional  method  of  practising  it, 
added  to  a  new  insult  to  the  sacred  ceremonies  of  the 
mass. 

9th.  The  said  person  having  requested  to  see 
the  book  of  magic  which  he  declared  was  in  his 
possession,  he  refused  to  exhibit  the  same,  declar- 
ing that  the  person  who  made  the  demand  would 
not  be  able  to  read  or  understand  it,  but  that  he 
had  studied  the  whole  in  a  certain  place  which  he 
named. 

Declared  unanimously,  that  this  contains  a  profes- 
sion of  possessing  a  book  of  magic,  and  studying  the 
same  for  the  purpose  of  practising  it. 


128  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Finally  declared  unanimously,  that  the  person 
under  qualification  be  pronounced  under  suspicion 
de  levi. 

Fr.  Francisco  Siges7 
P.  Antonio  Mira, 
Fr.  Juan  Ba.  Llopis, 
Fr.  Augustin  de  Vinaros. 
Don  Joachin  de  Esplugues  y  Palavicino, 

Secretary. 


In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Valen- 
cia, on  the  twentieth  day  of  May,  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  fiftysix,  the  Inquisitors  Licen- 
tiate Don  Antonio,  Pelegen  Venero,  and  Don  Inigo 
Ortiz  de  la  Pefia  being  at  their  morning  audience, 
having  examined  the  information  received  in  this 
Holy  Office  against  Don  Antonio  Adorno,  a  sol- 
dier in  the  regiment  of  Asturias,  belonging  to  the 
company  of  Don  Jorge  Duran,  by  birth  a  Neapoli- 
tan, and  a  resident  in  this  city,  for  the  crimes  of 
professing  necromancy  and  amatory  divination, 
and  practising  the  same  with  insult  to  the  holy  sac- 
rifice of  the  mass  and  the  holy  cross — 

Ordered  unanimously,  that  the  said  Don  Anto- 
nia  Adorno  be  confined  in  the  secret  prison  of  this 
Holy  Office  ;  that  his  property  be  sequestered ; 
his  papers,  books,  and  instruments  seized,  and  ar- 
ranged for  his  accusation.  Ordered  further,  that 
before  execution,  this  be  submitted  to  the  mem- 
bers of  His  Majesty's  Council  of  the  Holy  General 
Inquisition. 

Don  Joachin  de  Esplugues  y  Palavicino, 

Secretary, 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  129 

[In  this  part  of  the  trial  are  inserted  the  originals  of 
fourteen  letters,  received  from  the  different  Inquisi- 
tions in  the  kingdom,  stating  that  their  records  had 
been  examined  without  finding  anything  against  the 
prisoner.  Also  a  letter  from  the  Grand  Council  of 
the  Inquisition  at  Madrid,  confirming  the  above  or- 
der.'] 


In  Council  May  31st,  1756. 

The  Dicasts  Ravazo,  Berz,  Barreda,  and  Her- 
reros. 

Let  justice  be  executed  according  to  the  above 
order. 


TO    OUR    CALIFICATOR  DR  BOXO,  AND  THE  FAMILIARS 
NAMED  IN  THIS  LETTER. 

Don  Antonio  Adorno,  the  subject  of  the  accom- 
panying warrant  of  imprisonment,  is  a  soldier  in 
the  company  of  Don  Jorge  Duran,  belonging  to 
the  regiment  of  Asturias.  He  is  a  Neapolitan  by 
birth,  of  a  middling  height,  robust,  dark  complex- 
ioned,  with  a  long  scar  over  his  left  eyebrow,  and 
a  dint  in  the  top  of  his  forehead.  His  age  is  twenty- 
four  or  twenty  five  years.  In  order  to  apprehend 
him,  our  Calificator,  Dr  Joseph  Boxo,  will  conduct 
himself  inthe  following  manner  : — 

He  will  consult,  with  great  secrecy  and  caution, 
accompanied  by  our  Familiar  Francisco  Suner,  or, 
inrhis  absence,  any  other  Familiar  in  that  neighbor- 
hood, as  Notary,  the  Colonel  or  Commander  of 
the  regiment,  where  the  said  Don  Antonio  Ador- 
no shall  be  found,  and  if  necessary,  exhibit  to  him 
17    . 


130  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

the  Warrant.  His  assistance  is  to  be  required  in 
the  apprehension,  which  being  performed,  his  per- 
son is  to  be  immediately  identified.  All  the  pa- 
pers, books,  and  instruments  found  upon  him  are 
to  be  seized,  as  well  as  those  which  may  be  found 
among  his  baggage.  Care  should  be  taken  that 
he  may  have  no  time  to  conceal  anything,  and  all 
the  effects  seized,  the  Calificador  will  remove  to  his 
own  house.  At  the  same  time,  all  his  other  property, 
if  he  possess  any,  will  be  sequestered,  an  inven- 
tory thereof  being  taken,  and  the  whole  left  in  the 
hands  of  such  person  as  the  Colonel  or  Command- 
er may  appoint  for  the  safe  keeping  of  the  same, 
commanding  him  not  to  part  with  anything  with- 
out our  order.  If  any  cash  should  be  met  with, 
the  Calificador  will  secure  it,  as  well  as  the  clothes 
for  the  use  of  the  prisoner,  all  which  are  to  be 
transported  to  his  house  along  with  the  papers, 
books,  and  instruments  above  specified. 

This  done,  the  Familiar  Suner,  or  whoever 
shall  act  as  Notary,  will  divest  him  of  every  kind 
of  offensive  weapon,  and  conduct  him  to  the  town 
of  Arbos  on  horseback,  without  pinioning  him,  as 
this  is  only  directed  in  cases  where  an  escape  is  at- 
tempted. Two  stout  fellows  armed  will  guard  him 
on  each  side.  At  Arbos,  he  is  to  be  delivered  into 
the  hands  of  our  Familiar  Raymundo  Freiras,  an 
inhabitant  of  that  place.  Should  he  not  be  at 
hand,  the  prisoner  is  to  be  brought  onward  to 
Vilafranca  and  committed  to  the  care  of  our  Fa- 
miliar Pedro  Batlle,  along  with  the  papers,  books, 
instruments,  money,  and  clothes  of  the  prisoner, 
all  which  are  to  be  brought  from  the  place  of  his 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  131 

arrest,  as  well  as  the  warrant  for  his  imprison- 
ment, a  copy  of  the  inventory  of  his  goods,  this 
letter,  and  the  adjoined  passport  for  the  Gate  of  the 
Angel  in  this  city.  The  transfer  being  made  to 
any  one  of  the  abovementioned  Familiars,  a  receipt 
will  be  taken,  which  it  is  to  be  transmitted  to  this 
tribunal,  as  also  a  bill  of  the  expenses  paid  by  the 
person  receiving  it,  from  the  time  he  undertook 
the  business  till  his  return  home,  specifying  the 
pay  of  the  guard,  horse  hire,  his  own  and  ttie  pris- 
oner's expenses. 

The  Familiar  of  Arbos  or  Vilafranca,  will,  in  the 
same  manner,  transport  him  with  whatever  he  may 
receive  from  the  Familiar  of  Reus,  to  this  city, 
which  he  will  enter  at  dusk  just  before  the  gates 
are  shut.  He  will  enter  at  the  Gate  of  the  Angel, 
and  present  the  accompanying  passport  of  the 
Governor  to  the  Officer  of  the  Guard.  Should  the 
Patrol  demand  to  see  it,  it  may  be  exhibited  to 
them,  after  which  he  will  proceed  directly  to  this 
Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition,  and  inquire  for  the 
Alcayde.  Into  his  hands  will  then  be  delivered  the 
prisoner,  and  all  the  effects  pertaining  to  him,  to- 
gether with  the  warrant  of  imprisonment,  the  in- 
ventory of  the  goods,  and  this  letter.  The  next 
day  he  will  come  before  this  tribunal  and  give  a 
relation  of  his  proceedings.     God  preserve  you. 

Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barcelona, 
June  30th,  1756  The  Licentiate, 

D.  Joseph  de  Otero  y  Cossio. 
The  Licentiate, 
Don  Manuel  de  Guell  y  Serra. 
Juan  Antonio  Almonacid,  Sechj. 


132  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

ANSWER. 
MOST  ILLUSTRIOUS   SE110RES. 

Until  the  10th  of  the  present  month  I  was  not 
able  to  succeed  in  apprehending  Don  Antonio 
Adorno,  as  he  did  not  make  his  appearance  in  this 
quarter  before  that  date.  The  capture  was  made 
with  great  caution,  the  commander  having  con- 
trived to  deliver  him  into  my  hands  in  the  prison 
of  the  regiment,  from  which  place  he  proceeds 
this  day,  Tuesday,  July  13th,  under  the  care  of 
the  Familiar  Rafel  Bellveny,  the  Familiar  Fran- 
cisco Sunez  being  sick. 

No  inventory  of  his  property  was  taken,  as 
none  was  to  be  found  either  upon  his  person  or  in 
his  knapsack,  except  the  papers  herewith  trans- 
mitted, and  a  book  containing  various  documents 
respecting  the  nobility  of  the  house  of  Adorno. 
No  money  has  been  found,  and  the  prisoner  is 
considerably  in  debt  to  the  regiment.  The  com- 
mander has  kept  every  article  of  his  clothing,  so 
that  it  has  been  necessary  to  purchase  a  suit  for 
him.  God  preserve  your  Excellencies  many  years. 
Dr  Joseph  Boxo,  Calificador  and 
Commissary  of  the  Holy  Office. 

Reus,  July  13th,  1756. 


FIRST  AUDIENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  fifth  day  of  August,  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  fiftysix,  the  Inquisitor,  Licen- 
tiate Dr  Joseph  de  Otero  y  Cossio,  being  at  his 
morning  audience,  ordered  to  be  brought  out  of 
prison,    a   person    calling    himself  Don    Antonio 


v 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  133 

Adorno,  a  native  of  the  city  of  Genoa,  aged  twen- 
tyseven  years,  who  was  sworn  to  declare  the  truth, 
and  preserve  secrecy  as  well  on  this  as  on  all  oth- 
er occasions,  till  the  decision  of  his  cause. 

Questioned,  his  name,  birthplace,  age,  occupa- 
tion, and  the  date  of  his  imprisonment. 

Answered,  that  he  was  born,  as  above  stated,  in 
the  city  of  Genoa,  that  his  age  was  twentyseven 
years,  that  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  infantry  regi- 
ment of  Asturias,  company  of  Don  Jorge  Duran, 
and  that  he  was  arrested  on  the  tenth  of  the  last 
month. 

Questioned,  who  was  his  father,  mother,  grand- 
father, uncles,  &c. 

[Here  follows  the  genealogy  of  the  prisoner,'] 

Questioned,  of  what  lineage  and  stock  were  his 
abovementioned  ancestors  and  collateral  relatives, 
and  whether  any  one  of  them,  or  he  himself,  had 
ever  been  imprisoned  or  put  under  penance  by  the 
Holy  Office  of  the  Inquisition. 

Answered,  that  his  family  was  noble,  as  above 
stated,  and  that  neither  he,  nor  any  one  of  them 
had  ever  been  punished  or  put  under  penance  by 
the  Holy  Office. 

Questioned,  if  he  was  a  baptized  and  confirmed 
Christian,  and  heard  mass,  confessed,  and  com- 
muned,   at  such    times  as  the   Church   directed. 

Answered,  Yes  ;  and  the  last  time  he  confessed 

was  to   Father  Fr.  Antonio ,  (his  name  he 

did  not  know)  a  barefoot  Friar  of  the  Convent  of 
the  Holy  Trinity ;  and  that  he  partook  of  the  sa- 
crament in  this  Convent  in  the  city  of  Valencia, 
where  his  regiment  was  then  stationed. 


134  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Here  the  prisoner  crossed  himself,  repeated  the 
Pater  Noster,  Ave  Maria,  and  Credo,  in  Spanish, 
without  fault,  and  answered  properly  to  all  the 
questions  respecting  the  christian  doctrine. 

Questioned,  if  he  could  read  or  write,  or  had 
studied  any  science. 

Answered,  that  he  could  read,  write,  and  ci- 
pher, having  learned  of  Dr  Francisco  Labatra,  in 
Vienna ;  and  that  he  had  studied  grammar  in  the 
Colegio  de  los  Praxistas  in  this  capital. 

Questioned,  what  were  the  events  of  his  life. 

Answered,  that  he  was  born  in  Genoa,  and  while 
a  boy,  was  carried  by  his  parents  to  Vienna,  where 
he  followed  his  studies  as  above  stated.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  he  entered  as  a  cadet  in  a  regiment  of 
infantry.  After  serving  here  till  twentytwo,  the 
regiment  was  broken  up,  and  he  remained  with 
his  mother  at  Vienna  for  the  space  of  a  month. 
He  then  set  out  for  Spain  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  some  property  belonging  to  him  by  in- 
heritance from  his  ancestors  in  Bellpuix  and  oth- 
er parts  of  the  kingdom.  He  landed  at  Barcelo- 
na, and  proceeded  to  Bellpuix,  Malaga,  Granada, 
and  Seville  ;  but,  failing  in  his  attempts  to  obtain  his 
property,  he  enlisted  in  the  infantry  regiment  of 
Asturias  then  quartered  in  this  city.  In  this  regi- 
ment he  visited  several  parts  and  cities  of  these 
kingdoms  at  their  respective  garrisons,  and  par- 
ticularly the  kingdom  of  Valencia,  from  whence 
he  proceeded  to  Reus,  where  he  was  arrested. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  suspected  the  cause 
of  his  imprisonment. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  135 

Answered,  that  he  supposed  it  to  be  on  account 
of  some  acts  he  had  performed  to  discover  certain 
thieves  in  his  company,  which  performances  he 
had  executed  with  a  degree  of  mystery  and  mum- 
mery to  create  wonder.    The  facts  were  as  follows. 

In  the  Guard  of  the  Duke  of  Berwick,  at  Va- 
lencia, some  shirts  and  stockings  were  stolen,  and 
the  commanding  officer  requested  the  prisoner  to 
make  trial  of  one  of  his  methods  of  discovering 
the  thief,  he  having  before  been  a  witness  of  the 
operation  of  one  of  them.  He  accordingly  assem- 
bled all  the  soldiers  of  the  guard  in  a  dark  room, 
and  informed  them  they  must  each  one  put  his 
finger  into  a  cup  of  water,  and  that  the  water 
would  blacken  the  finger  of  the  thief.  Before  the 
room  was  darkened  he  showed  them  the  cup  con- 
taining a  quantity  of  clear  water.  They  all  agreed 
to  the  proposal,  and  the  room  was  shut  up  so  as 
to  exclude  every  ray  of  light.  The  prisoner  then 
conveyed  a  quantity  of  ink  into  the  cup,  and  after 
making  a  preliminary  harangue  directed  every 
one  to  dip  his  finger  within.  This  they  all  did  ex- 
cept one  whom  he  supposed  to  be  the  thief.  He 
wet  his  finger  in  his  mouth  lest  it  should  be 
discovered  that  he  had  not  complied  with  the  di- 
rection. 

They  now  threw  open  the  windows  and  found 
every  man's  finger  black  but  that  of  the  delin- 
quent. The  prisoner  perceiving  this  and  observ- 
ing the  agitation  which  he  manifested,  exclaimed 
to  him,  'You  are  the  thief;'  and  finally  compelled 
him  to  pay  for  the  stolen  articles. 


136  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

In  order  more  fully  to  impress  them  with  the  be- 
lief that  this  man  was  guilty,  the  prisoner  directed 
the  commander  of  the  guard  to  write  the  name  of 
each  person  on  a  piece  of  paper  and  burn  it  to 
ashes,  informing  him  that  this  ashes  would  give 
the  impression  of  the  name  of  the  one  who  was 
guilty,  upon  his  hand.  In  order  to  effect  this  the 
prisoner  wrote  with  a  certain  liquor  upon  his  own 

hand  the  name  of  Juan  Antonio ,  (his  other 

name  he  did  not  remember)  then  showing  himself 
to  the  company  he  washed  his  hands  before  them, 
(taking  care,  however,  not  to  rub  them  much) 
and  observed,  *  You  see  there  is  nothing  now  writ- 
ten upon  my  hand  ;  but  when  this  list  is  burnt  it 
will  exhibit  there  the  name  of  the  thief.'  The 
paper  was  then  burnt,  and  he  rubbed  the  ashes 
upon  his  hand,  when  the  letters  made  their  ap- 
pearance, and  the  prisoner  gained  the  reputation 
of  a  wizard,  more  especially  in  the  conception  of 
of  the  said  Juan  Antonio. 

The  prisoner  declared  that  in  the  harangue 
abovementioned,  he  made  use  of  no  prayers,  and 
that  the  words  which  he  uttered  were  made  use  of 
solely  to  astound  and  amaze  the  hearers. 

He  was  then  informed  that  in  this  Holy  Office 
it  was  not  customary  to  imprison  any  one  without 
sufficient  information  that  he  had  said,  done,  or 
seen,  or  heard  something  contrary  to  the  Holy 
Religion  of  God  our  Lord,  and  the  Holy  Mother 
Apostolic  Roman  Church,  or  against  the  proper 
and  free  jurisdiction  of  the  Holy  Office,  in  conse- 
quence of  which  he  was  to  understand  that  he 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  137 

was  imprisoned  on  account  of  some  such  informa- 
tion. Therefore  he  was  exhorted  in  the  name  of 
God  our  Lord  and  his  glorious  and  blessed  Mother 
our  Lady  the  Virgin  Mary,  to  bethink  himself  and 
confess  the  whole  truth  in  relation  to  the  matter 
wherein  he  felt  guilty,  or  knew  of  the  guilt  of  oth- 
ers, without  concealing  anything  or  bearing  false 
witness  against  any  one,  by  doing  which,  justice 
should  be  executed,  and  his  trial  despatched  with 
all  brevity  and  mercy. 

Answered,  that  he  recollected  nothing  more, 
and  that  what  he  had  stated  above  was  the  truth. 
His  declarations  were  then  read,  and  declared  by 
him  to  be  correctly  recorded.  He  was  then  ad- 
monished to  bethink  himself  and  remanded  to 
prison.  Signed  by  him, 

M.  Anto.  Adorno. 
Don  Joseph  de  Noboa,  Sec'y. 


SECOND    AUDIENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  seventh  day  of  August,  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  fiftysix,  the  Inquisitors, 
Licentiate  Dr  Joseph  de  Otero  y  Cossio,  and  Dr 
Manuel  de  Guell  y  Serra,  being  at  their  morning 
audience,  ordered  the  abovementioned  Don  Anto- 
nio Adorno  to  be  brought  out  of  prison ;  which 
being  done,  and  the  prisoner  present,  he  was 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  relating 
to  his  affair  which  he  was  bound  to  divulge  ac- 
cording to  his  oath. 

Answered,  No. 
18 


138  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

He  was  then  informed,  that  he  was  aware  he 
had,  in  the  preceding  audience,  been  exhorted  in 
the  name  of  God,  our  Lord,  &c. ;  and  he  was  anew 
exhorted  in  the  same  manner,  by  conforming  to 
which  he  would  acquit  himself  like  a  Catholic 
Christian,  and  his  trial  should  be  despatched  with 
all  brevity  and  mercy  ;  otherwise  justice  should  be 
executed. 

Answered,  that  he  had  considered  the  exhorta- 
tion, but  had  nothing  to  add,  and  what  he  had 
above  related  was  the  truth,  according  to  the  oath 
he  had  sworn.  This  declaration  being  read,  was 
declared  by  him  to  be  correctly  recorded,  and,  ex- 
horted to  bethink  himself,  he  was  remanded  to 
prison. 

Signed  by  him,  M.  Anto.  Adorno. 

Don  Joseph  de  Noboa,  Secry. 


THIRD    AUDIENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barce- 
lona, on  the  twelfth  day  of  August,  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  fiftysix,  the  Inquisitors,  Licen- 
tiate Dr  Joseph  de  Otero  y  Cossio,  and  Dr  Manu- 
el de  Guell  y  Serra,  being  at  their  morning  audi- 
ence, ordered  the  said  Don  Antonio  Adorno  to  be 
brought  out  of  prison  ;  which  being  done,  and  the 
prisoner  present,  he  was 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  anything  relating 
to  his  affair,  which  he  was  bound  to  divulge  ac- 
cording to  his  oath. 

Answered,  No. 

He  was  then  informed,  that  he  was  aware  he 
had  been  exhorted  in  the  preceding  audience,  &c. 


RECORDS  OF  THK  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  1-39 

Answered,  that  he  had  considered  the  exhorta- 
tion, but  had  nothing  more  to  say. 

Straightway  appeared  the  Licentiate  Don  Faus- 
to  Antonio  de  Astorquiza  y  Urreta,  Inquisitor  Fis- 
cal of  this  Holy  Office,  and  presented  an  accusa- 
tion, signed  by  him,  against  the  said  Don  Antonio 
Adorno,  which  accusation  he  formally  swore  was 
not  offered  through  malice.  Here  follows  the  ac- 
cusation. 

MOST    ILLUSTRIOUS   SIRS, 

I,  the  Inquisitor  Fiscal,  appear  before  your  Ex- 
cellencies, and  accuse  criminally  Don  Antonio 
Adorno,  a  native  of  the  city  of  Genoa,  aged  twenty- 
seven  years,  a  soldier  in  the  regiment  of  Asturias, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  arrest,  in  garrison,  in 
the  town  of  Reus,  in  this  principality,  now  attach- 
ed to  the  secret  prison  of  this  Holy  Office,  with 
his  property  sequestered,  and  present  here  in  per- 
son— for  that  this  person,  being  a  baptized  and 
confirmed  Christian,  and  not  having  the  fear  of 
God,  or  the  justice  of  your  Excellencies  before 
his  eyes,  has  committed  heavy  crimes  against  our 
Holy  Catholic  Faith,  by  professing  and  practising 
various  necromantical  arts,  with  insult  to  the  holy 
sacrifice  of  the  mass,  its  sacred  ceremonies,  and 
the  holy  cross  ;  also  imparting  his  evil  art  and  in- 
struments to  others,  for  their  practice,  with  the 
like  insult  to  the  holy  cross  and  holy  sacrifice  of 
the  mass.  On  which  account,  I  hold  him  at  least 
to  be  suspected  de  levi  in  the  faith,  and  accuse 
him  of  the  whole,  both  in  general  and  in  particular. 


140  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

1.  The  said  person,  on  a  time  specified,  and 
in  the  company  of  certain  persons  named,  declar- 
ed that  he  was  able  when  anything  was  stolen,  to 
discover  the  thief,  and  in  proof  of  this  assertion, 
stated  that  he  had  formerly  done  this  by  writing 
the  names  upon  papers,  of  some  persons,  among 
whom  a  sum  of  money  had  been  stolen,  and  putting 
the  papers  into  the  fire,  repeating  the  words,  'Ego 
sum;  f actus  est  homo,  consummation  est.'>  The  papers 
were  consumed,  except  that  bearing  the  name  of 
the  thief.  None  but  the  said  person  could  take 
this  paper  out  of  the  fire,  and  the  money  was  found 
upon  the  one  designated, 

2.  Some  one  objecting  to  him,  that  this  could 
not  be  done  without  some  pact  with  the  devil,  he 
replied  that  it  was  so  justifiable  an  act,  that  he 
would  perform  it  immediately  after  mass  or  com- 
munion, and  it  being  declared  a  matter  to  be  laid 
before  the  Inquisition,  he  affirmed  that  he  would 
do  it  in  presence  of  the  Inquisitors. 

3.  Furthermore,  he  asserted  that  he  could  exe- 
cute the  above  purpose  by  rubbing  the  ashes  of 
the  papers  upon  his  hand,  where  it  would  leave 
impressed  the  name  of  the  thief;  also,  that  he 
knew  another  method  which  he  did  not  explain. 
I  request  that  he  may  be  questioned  what  this 
method  is,  where  he  learned  it,  and  whether  he  has 
practised  these  two  last,  uttering  the  words  before 
specified. 

4.  Continuing  the  conversation  with  the  above- 
mentioned  person,  he  informed  him  that  he  pos- 
sessed certain  instruments  of  use  in  various  ways, 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  141 

and  in  fact  showed  him  something  folded  up,  which 
he  took  out  of  his  pocket.  And,  on  being  asked 
whence  he  obtained  the  knowledge  of  these  arts, 
replied  that  he  learned  them  from  a  book  of  magic 
in  his  possession,  which  enabled  him  to  do  what- 
ever he  pleased.  I  request  that  he  may  be  ques- 
tioned respecting  this  book  of  magic,  as  well  as 
the  contents  of  the  abovementioned  envelope. 

5.  He  told  this  person  that  he  could  learn  from 
the  same  book  how  to  make  himself  invisible,  as 
well  as  invulnerable  to  the  thrust  of  a  sword. 

6.  Being  questioned  by  this  person  whether  he 
knew  any  art  relative  to  playing  at  ball,  he  an- 
swered, not  then,  but  that  he  would  come  to  his 
house,  and  reveal  to  him  a  secret  for  gaining  the 
favor  of  the  ladies. 

7.  He  went  accordingly  to  this  house,  and  there 
gave  to  the  said  person  a  strip  of  parchment  bear- 
ing these  words,  '  Ego  +  sum.  Exe  +  homo  con- 
summatum  +  est.  Ego  Juaginus  Aprecor  Domini 
Nostri  Jesu  Christi  in  vitam  eternam  seculi  seculor- 
um  libera  me  de  omnibus  rebus  de  ignis  cautus  et 
omnia  instrumenta  hominum  detenta  me  ach  die  ach 
nocte  custode  rege  et  guberna  me  Amen.  This  was 
rolled  up  with  a  piece  of  lead  and  bone,  and  di- 
rected to  be  worn,  in  the  shape  of  a  cross,  next  the 
skin,  near  the  heart,  which  would  make  the  wear- 
er invulnerable.  I  request  that  this  parchment 
may  be  examined,  and  the  prisoner  questioned  re- 
specting it. 

3.  He  also  gave  the  same  person  another  strip 
of  parchment,  containing  various  letters  and  rig- 


142  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

ures,  taking  measures  with  it  upon  his  body,  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  him  from  wounds.  He 
directed  him  to  rub  this  over  with  the  wax  which 
dripped  from  the  tapers  during  mass,  and  after- 
wards to  wear  it  next  his  skin.  I  request  that  this 
may  likewise  be  examined,  and  the  prisoner  ques- 
tioned respecting  it. 

9.  He  furthermore  gave  to  the  same  person 
four  other  written  parchments,  directing  him  to 
wear  one  of  them  upon  the  little  finger  of  his  left 
hand  under  a  white  stone  set  in  a  ring.  When 
this  stone  turned  red,  he  might  play  at  any  game 
except  dice  or  las  quillets,  and  be  sure  to  win ;  but, 
if  it  turned  black,  he  was  not  to  play.  He  direct- 
ed him  further  to  put  these  parchments  in  his 
right  shoe  and  sprinkle  them  with  holy  water, 
after  which  they  were  to  be  worn  near  the  heart. 
I  request  that  these  also  may  be  examined,  and 
the  prisoner  questioned  concerning  them. 

10.  The  same  person  requesting  to  see  the 
abovementioned  book  of  magic,  he  refused  him, 
alleging  that  he  could  not  read  or  understand  it, 
but  that  he,  the  prisoner,  had  studied  the  whole. 
I  request  that  farther  investigations  may  be  made 
respecting  this  book. 

11.  On  another  occasion,  when  some  articles 
had  been  stolen,  he  discovered  the  thief  in  this 
manner.  Collecting  all  the  suspected  persons  in 
a  dark  room,  he  made  a  harangue,  and  ordered 
each  man  to  dip  his  finger  into  a  cup  containing 
water,  informing  them  that  the  water  would  black- 
en the  linger  of  the  thief.     Before  this  was  execut- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  1  13 

ed,  he  conveyed  some  ink  into  the  cup.  After- 
wards the  windows  were  opened  with  another  ha- 
rangue, and  each  man's  finger  was  found  black 
with  the  exception  of  one  who  had  not  obeyed  the 
direction.  This  the  prisoner  judged  to  be  the  thief. 
Without  doubt  the  abovementioned  harangues 
were  conformable  to  the  rest  of  his  actions,  and  I 
request  that  he  may  be  examined  concerning 
them. 

12.  Furthermore  he  directed  that  the  names 
of  the  persons  present  on  the  above  occasion, 
should  be  written  upon  a  paper  and  burnt.  The 
ashes  he  rubbed  over  his  hand,  where  it  left  mark- 
ed the  name  of  the  delinquent,  which  the  prison- 
er had  previously  written  there  with  a  certain 
liquor,  in  such  a  manner  that  it  could  not  be  seen. 

13.  In  the  audiences  which  have  been  held 
respecting  him,  he  has  been  exhorted  to  declare 
the  truth  and  confess  his  crimes,  which  he  has  not 
done,  but  endeavoured  to  hide  the  enormities  so 
recently  committed  by  him,  thus  rendering  him- 
self unworthy  of  that  mercy  which  your  Excellen- 
cies extend  to  those  who  confess  with  sincerity, 
and  deserving  a  punishment  corresponding  to  his 
great  offences. 

Therefore,  I  request  and  entreat  your  Excel- 
lencies to  accept  the  confession  of  the  said  pris- 
oner, so  far  as  in  my  favor,  and  no  farther,  and  to 
regard  as  fully  proved  my  accusation,  or  such  part 
thereof  as  may  suffice  to  obtain  a  sentence,  con- 
demning the  prisoner  as  perpetrator  of  the  above 
crimes  to  the  heaviest   punishments  thereto  as- 


144  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

signed  by  the  sacred  canons,  pontifical  bulls,  com- 
mon laws,  and  edicts  of  this  realm,  for  a  punish- 
ment to  him,  and  a  terror  and  example  to  others. 
Furthermore  I  request  your  Excellencies  that 
without  any  diminution  of  my  proofs,  the  prisoner 
may,  if  necessary,  be  put  to  rigorous  torture,  to 
be  continued  and  repeated  till  he  confess  all  his 
crimes  and  accomplices.  The  Licentiate, 

Don  Fausto  Antonio  de  Astorquiza  y  Urreta. 

This  accusation  having  been  presented  and 
read,  the  said  Don  Antonio  Adorno  was  formally 
sworn  to  answer  thereto,  and  declare  the  truth ; 
and  the  same  being  again  read,  article  by  article, 
he  answered  as  follows. 

To  the  head  of  the  accusation  he  replied  that 
he  was  the  same  Don  Antonio  Adorno  mentioned 
therein,  and  that  although  he  in  reality  performed 
what  has  been  laid  to  his  charge,  yet  he  never  im- 
agined it  to  be  contrary  to  our  Holy  Catholic 
Faith,  nor  supposed  it  to  be  necromantic  or  su- 
perstitious ;  that  he  never  had  practised  anything 
out  of  disrespect  for  the  mass,  nor  had  uttered 
sacred  language  for  a  superstitious  purpose,  nor 
imparted  evil  doctrine  or  instruments  to  others  for 
this  end  ;  therefore  he  ought  not  to  be  suspected 
in  the  faith. 

To  the  first  article,  he  answered,  that  it  was 
true,  and  that  the  circumstances  occurred  in  the 
city  of  Valencia,  in  the  house  of  a  person  whose 
name  he  could  not  recollect,  but  only  that  he  re- 
sided in  the  Calle  del  Mar,   near  a  Convent  of 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  145 

Nuns.  He  made  the  assertions  to  give  the  com- 
pany a  high  Opinion  of  him.  There  were  present 
on  this  occasion,  three  soldiers  and  an  officer,  who, 
with  the  prisoner,  formed  the  patrol,  a  scrivener 
and  two  Alguacils,  who  also  were  attached  to  the 
patrol  in  Valencia.  The  operation  which  he  des- 
cribed, he  had  heard  of  in  the  city  of  Inspruck  in 
Germany.  He  had  once  practised  it  on  the  occa- 
sion of  three  dollars  being  stolen  from  Matheo 
Suarez,  his  sergeant.  He  wrote  the  names  of 
some  persons  upon  pieces  of  paper,  and  on  the 
back  of  each,  the  words  ' Ego  sum:  exe  homo: 
consummatum  est.''  These  were  thrown  into  the  fire, 
but  the  experiment  did  not  succeed,  for  they  were 
all  burnt.  He  did  this  in  private,  and  merely  to 
satisfy  his  curiosity,  without  imagining  it  to  be  su- 
perstitious. 

To  the  second  article,  he  answered,  that  it  was 
true  he  had  made  the  assertions  contained  therein, 
as  he  could  not  believe  the  act  to  be  evil,  in  which 
the  words  of  Christ  were  used. 

To  the  third  article,  he  answered,  that  it  was 
true  he  had  spoken  what  is  therein  stated,  and  that 
the  divinations  mentioned,  were  those  he  had  con- 
fessed in  the  first  audience,  but  that  he  had  not 
made  use  of  any  prayers  in  these  operations,  al- 
though on  the  abovementioned  occasions  he  gave 
those  present  to  understand  that  various  words 
were  to  be  uttered. 

To  the  fourth  article,  he  answered,  that  it  was 
true  the  conversation  and  acts  therein  described 
took  place  ;  that  it  happened  in  Valencia,  with 
19 


146  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

the  scrivener  abovementioned.  The  paper  which 
he  took  from  his  pocket,  contained  some  bits  of 
bone  and  a  bullet  battered  to  pieces.  As  to  what 
he  asserted  respecting  the  book  of  magic,  he  had 
done  it  to  measure  the  degree  of  credulity  of  the 
said  scrivener,  who  readily  swallowed  all  his  tales, 
and  offered  him  money  to  learn  the  abovemention- 
ed arts.  He  never  possessed  any  such  book  of 
magic. 

To  the  fifth  article,  he  answered,  that  what  it 
contained  with  respect  to  the  security  from  the 
thrust  with  a  sword,  was  true,  but  as  to  what  it 
stated  respecting  his  assertion  of  making  himself 
invisible,  he  had  no  recollection  of  any  such  thing. 

To  the  sixth  article,  he  answered,  that  it  was 
true. 

To  the  seventh,  eighth,  ninth,  and  tenth  articles, 
he  answered,  that  they  were  true.  The  parch- 
ments described  by  the  Fiscal,  and  now  exhibited, 
were  recognised  by  him  for  the  same  he  gave  to 
the  scrivener,  with  whom  he  held  the  conversation 
described.  This  man's  name  was  Joachin.  He 
was  so  desirous  of  obtaining  a  knowledge  of  the 
things  related  by  the  prisoner,  that  he  furnished 
him  with  the  parchment  for  the  purpose.  It  was 
all  done  by  the  prisoner,  to  divert  himself  with  the 
credulity  of  this  person,  and  upon  the  parchments 
was  written,  among  other  expressions,  these  words 
in  the  German  language,  '  tu  pist  aijnor  tas  tu  tost 
claupt  ;*  that  is,  Hjou  are  a  fool  to  believe  this,''  by 
which  it  might  be  easily  perceived  that  his  only 
object  was  to  impose  upon  him. 

*  Du  bist  ein  narr  das  du  dies  glaubst. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  147 

It  being  now  late,  the  audience  closed,  and  the 
above  having  been  read  to  the  prisoner,  was  de- 
clared by  him  to  be  correctly  recorded,  and  the 
truth,  according  to  the  oath  which  he  had  sworn. 

Signed  by  him,  M.  Anto.  Adorno. 

Don  Joseph  de  Noboa,  Sec^y. 


In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  thirteenth  day  of  August,  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  fiftysix,  the  Inquisitors, 
Licentiate  Don  Joseph  de  Otero  y  Cossio,  and 
Don  Manuel  de  Guell  y  Serra,  being  at  their  morn- 
ing audience,  ordered  the  abovementioned  Don 
Antonio  Adorno  to  be  brought  out  of  prison ;  which 
being  done,  he  was  ordered  to  continue  his  an- 
swers to  the  accusation  under  the  oath  which  he 
had  already  sworn. 

To  the  eleventh  and  twelfth  articles  he  answer- 
ed that  they  were  true,  and  that  the  circumstances 
took  place  in  the  manner  described  by  him  in  the 
first  audience,  but  that  the  harangues  he  made,  had 
only  for  their  object  to  create  wonder  in  the  hear- 
ers, and  that  he  used  no  prayers  nor  sacred  words. 

To  the  thirteenth  article  he  answered  that  he 
had  confessed  everything,  and  that  he  promised  a 
thorough  amendment  of  his  follies  into  which  he 
had  been  drawn  by  his  ignorance,  and  desire  to 
gain  a  little  money  to  relieve  his  misery. 

To  the  conclusion  he  answered  that  he  again 
implored  the  mercy  of  the  Holy  Office  for  what  he 
had  confessed,  which  was  all  he  had  done,  and  that 
although  he  were  put  to  the  torture  he  could  say 


148  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

nothing  more.  The  above  being  the  truth  accord- 
ing to  the  oath  he  had  sworn,  and  the  whole  hav- 
ing been  read  in  this  audience,  was  declared  to  be 
what  he  had  confessed,  and  was  signed  by  him. 

M.  Antonio  Adorno. 
Don  Joseph  de  Noboa,  Sec^y. 


SENTENCE. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barce- 
lona, on  the  fourteenth  day  of  August,  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  fiftysix,  the  Inquisitors,  Licen- 
tiate Don  Joseph  de  Otero  y  Cossio  and  Don 
Manuel  de  Guell  y  Serra  being  at  their  morning 
audience,  and  having  examined  the  proceedings 
against  Don  Antonio  Adorno  as  far  as  the  accu- 
sation and  answers  thereto — 

Ordered,  unanimously,  that  this  person  be  se- 
verely reprehended,  admonished,  and  warned,  in 
the  Hall  of  the  Tribunal  with  closed  doors,  and 
that  he  be  banished  perpetually  from  the  Span- 
ish dominions  at  a  date  to  be  fixed  upon,  and  that 
he  be  informed  that  if  he  fail  to  comply  punc- 
tually with  every  order,  he  will  be  severely  pun- 
ished and  proceeded  against  with  all  the  rigor  of 
justice  ; — that  this  trial  be  suspended  for  the  pres- 
ent and  the  sentence  submitted  to  the  Council. 
Don  Joseph  de  Noboa,  Sec^ij. 

In  the  Council,  September  4th,  1756. 

Seilores,  Barreda,  Ravazo,  and  Herreros. 

Let  justice  be  executed  according  to  the  above 
sentence. 


149 


EXTRACTS 

FROM  THE  REGISTER  OF  THE  PRISONS. 

March,  1730. 
No.  8.  Juan  Panisso,  a  native  and  inhab- 

Prison  of  the  Mar-  itant  of  this  city,  a  married  man,  in 

tSJSSSSi  custody in  the  secret  Prison  of  this 

bread  of  the  Con-  Holy  Office,  with  his  property  se- 
questrated, for  uttering  heretical 
speeches.  Respecting  this  prisoner,  information 
was  forwarded  last  January,  that  proceedings  were 
on  foot  for  taking  the  depositions  of  the  witness- 
es against  him,  with  a  view  to  their  publication. 
The  audience  for  this  purpose  was  held  on  the 
twentyninth  of  this  month,  and  the  prisoner  an- 
swered to  the  charges  with  a  full  denial.  In  this 
state  the  case  remains  at  present. 

April,  1730. 
The   prisoner  was  furnished  with  the  publica- 
tion of  the  testimony,  and  allowed  to  confer  with 
his  counsel.     He  drew  up  articles  of  defence,  and 
in  this  state  the  case  remains. 

June,  1730. 
The   prisoner's  defence  was   received  on    the 
third  of  this  month,  and  the  audience  for  communi- 
cation with  his  counsel  was   held  on  the  eighth, 
when  his  linal  defence  was  made.     On  the  ninth, 


150    "  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

sentence  was  passed  with  the  assistance  of  the  Or- 
dinary, unanimously,  that  the  prisoner  should  be 
put  to  the  regular  torture,  before  the  execution  of 
which,  it  was  resolved  that  the  case  should  be  re- 
ferred to  your  Highness,  which  was  done  on  the 
tenth.  The  matter  remains  in  this  state  waiting 
for  the  decision  of  your  Highness. 

August,  1730. 
On  the  first  of  July  we  received  the  order  of 
your  Highness  to  put  the  prisoner  to  the  torture 
ad  arbitrium.  On  the  twelfth  an  audience  was 
held,  in  which  a  sentence  to  that  effect  was  passed. 
The  prisoner  was  informed  of  the  same,  and  ad- 
monished in  the  customary  manner,  but  persisted 
in  his  denial.     He   was  then  put  to  the  torture,* 

*  There  were  three  methods  of  torture  ;  the  cord,  fire,  and  water. 

In  the  first  method,  they  tied  [the  hands  behind  the  back  of  the  pa- 
tient by  means  of  a  cord  which  passed  through  a  pulley  attached  to 
the  roof,  and  the  executioners  drew  him  up  as  high  as  possible.  After 
suspending  him  for  some  time,  the  cord  was  loosened,  and  he  fell  with- 
in six  inches  of  the  ground.  This  terrible  shock  dislocated  all  the 
joints  and  cut  the  flesh  even  to  the  sinews.  The  process  was  renew- 
ed every  hour  and  left  the  patient  without  strength  or  motion.  It  was 
not  until  after  the  physician  had  declared  that  the  sufferer  could  no 
longer  endure  the  torture  without  dying,  that  the  Inquisitors  sent  him 
back  to  prison. 

The  second  was  performed  by  means  of  water.  The  excutioners 
stretched  the  victim  over  a  wooden  instrument  likes  a  spout,  fitted  to 
receive  the  body  of  a  man,  without  any  bottom  but  a  stick  passing 
across  it.  The  body  falling  backwards,  came  to  such  a  position  that  the 
feet  were  higher  than  the  head.  In  this  state  the  respiration  became 
very  painful,  and  the  patient  suffered  the  most  dreadful  agonies  in  all 
his  limbs  from  the  pressure  of  the  cords,  the  knots  of  which  cut  into 
the  flesh.  In  this  cruel  position  the  executioners  passed  into  the 
throat  a  piece  of  fine  linen,  wet,  a  part  of  which  covered  the  nos- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  1  51 

but  suffered  the  whole  without  confessing  any- 
thing. On  the  fifteenth,  with  the  assistance  of  the 
Ordinary,  his  case  was  definitively  judged  by  a 
sentence  pronounced  unanimously,  that  the  pris- 
oner hear  his  own  condemnation  read  in  the  hall 
of  the  Tribunal  with  open  doors  ;  that  he  make 
an  abjuration  de  levi,  be  severely  reprehended  and 
warned,  absolved  ad  cautelam,  and  be  banished 
from  this  city,  Madrid,  and  the  court  of  his  Majes- 
ty, to  a  distance  of  eight  leagues,  for  the  space  of 
five  years,  the  three  first  of  which  to  be  spent  in 
the  royal  garrison  of  this  city.  This  sentence  was 
referred  to  your  Highness  the  same  day,  and  on 
the  fourteenth  of  August,  the  answer  received  in 
which  your  Highness  ordered  that  the  prisoner  be 
brought  into  the  hall  of  the  Tribunal,  and  there, 
with  closed  doors,  be  severely  reprehended  and 

trils.  They  then  turned  water  into  the  mouth  and  nose  and  left  it 
to  filter  so  slowly  that  one  hour  at  least  was  consumed  before  the  suf- 
ferer had  swallowed  a  drop,  although  it  trickled  without  interruption. 
Thus  the  patient  found  no  interval  for  respiration.  At  every  moment 
he  made  an  effort  to  swallow,  hoping  to  give  passage  to  a  little  air  ; 
but  the  wet  linen  prevented  this,  and  caused  the  water  to  enter  by  the 
nostrils.  Thus  it  often  happened  that  when  the  torture  was  finished, 
they  drew  the  linen  from  the  throat  all  stained  with  the  blood  of  the 
vessels  which  had  been  burst  by  the  struggles  of  the  unfortunate  vic- 
tim. It  should  be  added,  that  every  instant,  a  powerful  arm  turned  the 
fatal  lever,  and  at  each  turn  the  cords  which  bound  the  arms  and  legs 
penetrated  to  the  very  bones. 

If  by  this  second  torment  they  could  obtain  no  confession,  the  In- 
quisitors resorted  to  fire.  For  this  purpose  the  executioners  tied  the 
hands  and  feet  in  such  a  manner  that  the  sufferer  could  not  change 
his  position.  They  then  rubbed  the  feet  with  oil  and  lard,  and  oth- 
er penetrating  matter,  and  placed  them  before  the  fire,  until  the 
flesh  was  so  roasted  that  the  bones  and  sinews  appeared  in  every 
part. — Llorente,  Hist,  de  la  Inquisition. 


152  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

warned,  that  he  be  admonished  to  abstain  from 
the  like  offences  in  future,  and  forthwith  dismiss- 
ed. This  was  executed  on  the  same  day,  together 
with  the  audience  for  binding  him  to  secrecy,  and 
making  inquiries  respecting  the  prison.  The 
prisoner  was  then  dismissed. 

Dr  Don  Miguel  Vizente  Cebrian  y  Augustin. 


March,  1730. 
Isabel  Boxi,  alias      Isabel  Boxi,  alias  Modrono,  wid- 

Modrono.      Prison  . 

of  sta.  Maria,  ovv,  native  of  Vilaseca,  in  the  dio- 
SSSra  Scese  of  Tarragona,  aged  sixtythree 
bread  of  the  Con-  years,   confined  in   the  secret  pris- 

tractor 

on  of  this  Holy  Office,  with  her 
property  sequestered,  for  witchcraft  and  super- 
stition. Respecting  this  prisoner  your  Highness 
was  informed  in  the  month  of  January,  that 
the  witnesses  were  giving  their  testimony  against 
her  for  publication.  Nothing  was  done  in  all 
February,  and  part  of  the  present  month,  with 
respect  either  to  this  or  the  other  cases,  for 
this  reason ;  the  Inquisitor,  Licentiate  Don  Bal- 
thasar  Villarexo  has  been  out  of  health  most 
of  this  month,  and  I  have  been  in  the  same 
state  all  the  month  of  February.  For  the  same 
reason,  also,  no  account  was  transmitted  the  last 
month,  there  being  no  proceedings  to  relate.  At 
present,  we  have  done  nothing  more  than  hold  an 
audience  for  the  publication  of  the  testimony 
against  the  above  prisoner,  and  shall  proceed  with 
this  case  after  the  holidays. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  153 

April,  1730. 
The  publication  of  the  testimony  was  done  on 
the  eighteenth  and  twentyfourth  of  this  month,  on 
which  occasions  the  prisoner  made  her  answers 
to  the  charges,  and  denied  the  whole.  In  this 
state  the  case  remains  at  present. 

May,  1730. 
The  publication  was  communicated  to  the  pris- 
oner,  and  she  conferred  with  her  counsel,   and 
drew  up  her  defence.     Sentence  was  passed,  and 
the  same  referred  to  your  Highness. 

June,  1730. 
On  the  third  of  this  month,  the  order  of  your 
Highness  respecting  the  prisoner  was  received, 
which  having  confirmed  the  sentence,  an  auto  was 
given  in  the  church  of  Santa  Agueda  on  the 
eighteenth  of  this  month,  the  prisoner  being  pres- 
ent in  penitential  garments,  with  the  insignia  of 
her  offences.  Her  sentence  was  read  and  she 
made  an  abjuration  de  levi,  after  which  she  was 
absolved  ad  cautelam*  On  the  nineteenth,  she 
received  a  scourging,  and  on  the  twentieth,  after 
being  reprehended,  admonished,  and  threatened, 
she  was  informed  that  she  must  pass  three  years 


*  When  the  crime  imputed  to  the  accused  was  not  certain,  and  he 
had  not  entangled  himself  in  the  interrogatories,  he  was  acquitted,  on 
the  condition  that  he  should  make  a  formal  abjuration  of  his  heresies 
and  be  purged,  after  the  canonical  fashion,  of  the  suspicion  attached  to 
him.  After  this,  he  was  absolved  ad  cautelam,  or,  in  other  words,  as 
having  been  suspected  of  heresy. — Llorente,  Hist,  de  la  Inquisition. 

20 


154  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

of  confinement,  in  Vique,  and  be  banished  seven 
years  more  from  Tarragona,  Barcelona,  and  Mad- 
rid. On  the  same  day,  the  audience  was  held 
for  binding  her  to  secrecy  and  ascertaining  the 
state  of  her  connexion  with  the  prison.  The  day 
following  she  was  despatched  to  Vique  where 
she  now  remains  in  the  custody  of  a  learned  per- 
son who  is  to  instruct  her  in  the  Catholic  Faith. 
Dr  Don  Miguel  Vizente  Cebrian  y  Augustin. 


March,  1730. 
Ana  Vila  yCampas.      Ana  Vila  y  Campas,  a  native  and 
E£££°SS  inhal>itant  of  this  city,  aged  thirty- 
&ueldos    and    the  five    years,  and  a  widow,   confined 

bread  of  the  Con-  .         .  .  r      ,  .       TT    , 

tractor.  in  the    secret  prison  ol   this   Holy 

Office,  with  her  goods  in  sequestration,  for  witch- 
craft and  superstitious  impostures.  With  relation 
to  this  prisoner,  your  Highness  was  informed  in  the 
month  of  January,  that  the  depositions  were  col- 
lecting against  her.  The  audience  has  since  been 
held,  and  after  the  holidays,  the  cause  will  be  car- 
ried on. 

April,  1730. 
On  the  seventh  and  twentyfirstof  this  month,  the 
audience  for  publication  was  held,  in  which  state 
the  case  remains  at  present. 

May,  1730. 
The  prisoner  communicated  with  her  counsel, 
answered  to  the  charges,  and  was  sentenced.  The 
sentence  was  referred  to  your  Highness. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  1 55 

June,  1730. 
On  the  thirteenth  day  of  this  month,  the  order  of 
your  Highness  confirming  the  sentence,  was  re- 
ceived, in  consequence  of  which  an  auto  was  given 
in  the  church  of  Sta  Agueda,  where  the  prisoner 
was  present,  in  penitential  garments,  with  the  pro- 
per insignia  of  her  offences.  Her  sentence  was 
read,  she  made  an  abjuration  de  levi,  and  was  ab- 
solved ad  cautelam.  On  the  nineteenth,  she  was 
scourged,  and  on  the  twentieth,  was  reprehended, 
admonished,  and  severely  threatened,  after  which 
the  audience  was  held  for  binding  her  to  secrecy, 
and  making  inquiry  respecting  the  prison.  On  the 
night  of  the  same  day,  she  was  carried  to  the  casa 
de  la  Galera,  where  she  is  to  be  confined  for  ten 
years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  term,  she  is  to  be 
banished  perpetually  from  this  city  and  Madrid,  for 
the  distance  of  eight  leagues.  She  remains  at 
present  in  the  charge  of  a  learned  person,  who  will 
instruct  her  in  the  Catholic  Faith. 


February,  1736. 
Joseph  Feman-       Joseph  Fernandez,  a  native  of  the 

dez   m  the   secret  *, 

prison  of  this  tribu-  town  of  Santa  Lima,  in  the  bishopric 

nal,  for  having  writ-  ^rTT~i       „]•!..  c 

ten  and  spoken  di-  of  Urgel>  ag^d  eighteen  years,  for- 

vers  heresies,  bias-  merly  an  apothecary,  and  latterly  a 

phemies,     and    in-  /        .       L  J  .  ■' 

suits  against  our  soldier  in  the  cavalry  regiment  of 

°  ^Destitute.  Calatrava,    taken   from   the   Royal 

Maintenance, two  priSOn  of  this  city  of  Barcelona,  and 

sueldos,     and    the  l  * 

bread  of  the  Con-  transported  to  the  secret  prison  of 

trpSon  of  the  in-  tms  tribunal,  on  the  twentieth  of  the 

nocents.  present  month  of  February.     This 


156  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

prisoner  made  a  spontaneous  confession  on  the 
fifteenth  of  January  of  the  present  year,  declaring 
that  he  had  made  an  explicit  league  with  the  devil, 
and  had  granted  him  his  soul.  He  furthermore 
stated  that  he  had  uttered,  on  many  occasions,  divers 
impious  and  heretical  sayings  against  God,  and 
against  Christ  and  his  Holy  Mother.  This  confes- 
sion was  ratified  on  the  eighteenth  and  tvventyfirst 
of  the  month ;  and  on  the  twentyeighth,  in  conse- 
quence of  his  confession,  a  sentence  was  passed,  that 
the  said  Joseph  Fernandez  be  reprehended,  admon- 
ished, and  warned ;  that  he  make  an  abjuration  de 
vehemently  be  absolved  ad  cautelam,  and  intrusted  to 
the  charge  of  a  Calificador  or  learned  person,  for 
the  purpose  of  being  instructed  in  the  mysteries 
of  our  Holy  Faith,  ratifying  his  previous  confes- 
sion, which  sentence  was  ordered  to  be  referred 
to  your  Highness,  and  transmitted  the  same  day. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  February,  the  answer  of  your 
Highness  was  received,  with  a  confirmation  of  the 
sentence,  which  was  not  put  in  execution,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  prisoner's  having  written  several 
letters  to  the  Inquisitor  Don  Balthasar  Villarexo, 
which  letters  contained  insulting,  heretical,  and 
blasphemous  matter  against  our  Holy  Catholic 
Religion,  as  well  as  contemptuous  and  insolent 
language  against  the  said  Inquisitor.  For  this  reason 
an  order  was  issued  for  his  imprisonment,  and  the 
said  Joseph  Fernandez  was,  on  the  twentieth  of  the 
same  month,  taken  from  the  Royal  Prison,  where 
he  was  then  confined.  On  the  twentysecond  and 
twentythird,  an  audience  was  held,  in  which  he  con- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  157 

fessed  that  the  letters  were  his,  and  that  he  had  writ- 
ten them  for  the  purpose  of  getting  free  from  the 
Royal  Prison,  and  the  garrison  where  he  was  con- 
fined for  desertion.  He  having  named  several 
persons  in  prison,  before  whom  he  had  uttered 
heretical  speeches,  a  commission  was  expedited 
on  the  twentyeighth  to  take  their  depositions.  The 
cause  is  delayed  till  the  depositions  are  completed. 

April,  1736. 
On  the  twentysecond  of  March,  the  depositions 
of  several  witnesses  were  received,  and  some  of 
them  were  ratified  ad  perpetaam  rei  memoriam,  as 
the  deponents  in  question  were  about  to  depart  for 
the  garrisons,  to  which  they  were  condemned.  A 
meeting  of  the  Calificadores  was  held  on  the  twelfth 
of  April,  and  the  proceedings  examined.  On  the 
thirteenth,  an  order  was  issued  that  the  prisoner 
should  be  taken  from  the  intermediate  prison,  which 
he  then  occupied,  and  transferred  to  the  secret  pris- 
on. On  the  seventeenth,  nineteenth,  and  twenti- 
eth, audiences  were  held,  in  which  he  confirmed 
what  he  had  before  declared  in  the  audiences  of 
the  twentysecond  and  twentythird  of  February  ; 
namely,  that  his  confession  of  leaguing  with  the 
devil  and  giving  up  his  soul,  was  wholly  fictitious, 
having  been  fabricated  by  him  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  free  from  the  garrison  of  Oran,  where  he 
was  confined.  He  further  confessed,  that  he  had, 
in  reality,  uttered  speeches  against  our  Holy  Faith, 
but  that  this  also  was  done  for  the  purpose  above 
stated,  and  not  with  anv  belief  in  his  own  asser- 


158  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

tions.  On  the  twentyseventh  of  the  present 
month,  an  audience  was  held,  in  which  the  prison- 
er nominated  for  his  Curador,  Dr  Joseph  Vifials, 
who  accepted  the  trust,  and  was  allowed  to  ex- 
ercise it.  On  the  same  day,  the  prisoner,  in  the 
presence  of  his  Curador,  ratified  his  confession 
without  adding  or  diminishing  anything,  and  the 
prisoner  having  been  admonished  in  the  regular 
manner,  the  accusation  against  him  was  presented. 

May,  1736. 
The  prisoner  answered  to  the  accusation  on  the 
twentyseventh  and  thirtieth  of  April,  confessing 
the  charges  to  be  true,  repeating  as  before,  that  he 
had  spoken  the  words  as  a  means  of  being  liberated 
from  his  confinement  in  the  garrison  of  Oran,  and 
without  any  bad  intention.  Having  appointed  the 
abovementioned  Dr  Joseph  Vinals  for  his  counsel, 
he  conferred  with  the  prisoner  respecting  his  case  on 
the  second  day  of  the  present  month.  The  coun- 
sel declared  that  he  was  ready  for  the  proofs  and 
a  definitive  decision,  whereupon  a  commission  was 
ordered  for  a  ratification  of  the  testimony  in  plena- 
rio.  On  the  eleventh,  the  ratifications  were  re- 
ceived, and  on  the  twentyfifth  and  twentyninth,  au- 
diences were  held,  in  which  a  regular  and  formal 
publication  of  the  testimony  was  performed. 

September,  1736. 
On  the  first  of  June,  publication  was  made  of 
several  letters  written  by  the  prisoner  to  different 
persons.     On  the  fifth,  the  answers  of  the  prisoner 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  159 

to  the  charges  were  ratified  before  Dr  Joseph 
Vinals,  his  Curador,  and  the  prisoner  communicat- 
ed with  the  counsel  respecting  his  defence.  On  the 
thirtieth,  the  defence  was  offered  by  the  prisoner's 
counsel,  and  a  commission  was  granted  to  make 
the  inquiries  requested  therein.  On  the  eighteenth 
of  July,  the  twenty  eighth  of  August,  and  first  of  Sep- 
tember, the  result  of  these  inquiries  was  received  in 
the  tribunal.  On  the  fourth  of  September,  an  audi- 
ence was  held,  and  the  prisoner  informed  that  the 
matters  for  his  defence  were  arranged,  to  which  he 
answered,  that  he  had  nothing  further  to  offer,  and 
was  ready  for  the  decision.  One  of  the  charges 
against  him,  being  that  he  had  affirmed  the  physi- 
cians had  pronounced  him  disordered  in  his  mind, 
sometime  in  the  last  year,  an  order  was  issued  for 
the  physicians  of  the  prisons  to  examine  him.  On 
the  twentyfifth  of  September,  a  paper  was  received 
from  the  two  physicians  declaring  that  they  had 
examined  him,  and  that  he  was  not  then,  nor  had 
been  at  any  time  previous,  in  a  state  of  mental 
alienation. 

December,  1736. 
On  the  eleventh  of  October,  an  audience  was  held, 
at  which  the  Ordinary  attended,  and  sentence  was 
passed,  that  the  condemnation  of  the  prisoner  be 
read  before  him  in  the  hall  of  the  tribunal  with 
open  doors  ;  that  he  make  an  abjuration  cle  levi, 
and  be  banished  eight  leagues  from  this  city  and 
Madrid,  for  the  space  of  three  years,  the  first  of 
which  to  be  passed  in  confinement  in  some  garri- 


160  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

son  to  be  fixed  upon  for  that  purpose ;  also  that 
he  be  severely  reprehended,  admonished,  and  warn- 
ed, and  returned  to  the  confinement  from  which 
he  was  taken,  when  brought  to  the  prison  of  this 
tribunal.  Ordered  also,  that  before  the  execution 
of  the  above  sentence,  it  be  referred  to  your  High- 
ness, which  was  done  on  the  thirteenth  of  October. 
The  matter  is  now  in  waiting  for  the  answer. 

January,  1737. 

On  the  eleventh  of  this  month,  the  answer  of 
your  Highness  was  received  with  the  order  re- 
specting the  prisoner,  in  execution  of  which,  his 
sentence  was  read  to  him  in  the  hall  of  the  tribu- 
nal, and  he  made  an  abjuration  de  levi,  was  absolv- 
ed ad  cautelam,  admonished,  reprehended,  and 
warned,  after  which  he  was  sentenced  to  ten  years 
banishment  from  this  city  and  the  Court,  to  the 
extent  of  eight  leagues,  the  first  five  years  of  his 
banishment  to  be  passed  in  confinement  in  the 
garrison  of  Oran.  The  same  day  an  audience 
was  held  to  bind  the  prisoner  to  secrecy,  and  make 
inquiries  respecting  the  prison  ;  after  which  he  was 
sent  to  the  Royal  Prison  of  this  city. 

Secret  prison  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barcelona, 
January  thirty  first,  1737. 

Don  Francisco  Antonio  de  Montoyer. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  161 

January,  1737. 
Miguel  Antonio      Miguel   Antonio   Dundana,    alias 

Dundana,  alias  Mi-  .  .  .  . 

guei  Antonio  Ma-  Maleti,  a  native  ol  the  city  ol  Com, 
prLi,"„r*hisTX-  in  Piedmont,  aged  twentyfour  years, 
nal,  for  heretical  a  soldier  in  the  regiment  called  the 

SDGGChlGS. 

Prison  of  st  Bar-  Queen's  Dragoons,  confined  in  the 

thol°Destitute         secret  prison  of  this  tribunal  on  the 

Maintenance, two  sixth  day  of  December  last,  for  here- 

sueldos,     and    the     .       ,  _.        .  .      „ 

bread  of  the  Con-  tical  speeches.  On  the  tenth,  tour- 
tractor,  teenth,  and  seventeenth  of  the  same 
month,  the  customary  audiences  were  held,  in  which 
the  prisoner  confessed  nothing  to  the  point.  On  the 
last  day  he  nominated  for  his  counsel,  Dr  Manuel 
Bonvehi,  who  accepted  the  trust,  and  the  confes- 
sions of  the  prisoner  were  ratified.  The  accusation 
was  then  presented,  to  the  several  articles  of 
which  the  prisoner  replied  on  the  sixteenth  and 
nineteenth  of  the  same  month,  declaring  that 
some  of  them  were  false,  and  some  true  ;  but  that 
he  had  uttered  the  words  in  mere  jest.  On  the 
twentieth,  an  audience  was  held,  in  which  the 
prisoner  conferred  with  his  counsel  concerning 
his  defence,  and  ratified  the  answers  made  to  the 
articles  of  the  accusation,  making  an  end  by 
calling  for  the  proofs.  On  the  same  day,  letters 
were  sent  to  the  other  Inquisitions,  requesting  that 
their  records  might  be  inspected  to  know  if  any 
proceedings  existed  against  this  person.  On  the 
eleventh  of  the  present  month,  a  commission  was 
granted  to  ratify  the  testimony  for  a  decisive  trial. 


21 


162  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION, 

March,  1737. 
On  the  sixteenth  of  this  month,  the  ratifications 
of  the  testimony  were  received  in  the  tribunal,  the 
business  having  been  delayed  on  account  of  the 
great  diversity  of  quarters  occupied  by  the  regi- 
ment of  the  Queen's  Dragoons. 

May,  1737. 
On  the  eighth,  ninth,  and  tenth  of  April,  the 
testimony  was  given  in  publication,  and  a  copy  of  the 
same  given  to  the  prisoner,  that  he  might  arrange 
his  defence  by  the  help  of  his  counsel.  On  the 
eleventh,  an  audience  was  held,  in  which  he  con- 
ferred with  Dr  Manuel  Bonvehi,  his  advocate,  and 
on  the  second  of  May,  an  audience  was  held,  in 
which  his  defence  was  received.  On  the  ninth  of 
the  same  month,  the  commission  and  papers  rela- 
ting to  the  affair,  were  sent  for. 

June,  1737. 
The  papers  were  not  received  this  month,  on 
account  of  the   difficulty  in  finding  the  requisite 
persons,  but  it  is  expected  the  business  will  be  ac- 
complished shortly. 

July,  1737. 
On  the  sixth  of  this  month,  the  papers  were  re- 
ceived, and  on  the  eighth  the  prisoner  communicat- 
ed with  his  counsel.  On  the  seventeenth,  the  tes- 
timony against  him  was  attested  in ple?iario,  and  his 
condemnation  confirmed.  On  the  twentyninth,  the 
proceedings  of  the  trial  were  examined,  and  the 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  163 

Reverend  Father  M.'Fr.  Mariano  Anglasell  being 
present  in  the  capacity  of  Judge  Ordinary  of  the 
bishopric  of  Solsona,  it  was  unanimously  ordered 
that  the  prisoner  be  put  to  the  regular  torture  ; 
which  sentence  was  ordered  to  be  previously  sub- 
mitted to  your  Highness. 

September,  1737. 

On  the  thirtieth  of  August,  your  Highness  confirm- 
ed the  above  sentence,  and  ordered  that  the  tor- 
ture should  be  given  ad  arbitrium,  to  extort  a  con- 
fession of  the  acts  and  intentions  of  the  prisoner. 
The  papers  relating  to  the  trial  which  had  been 
forwarded,  were  received  back  on  the  seventh  of 
the  present  month.  The  prisoner  being  under  the 
hands  of  the  physician,  on  account  of  his  health, 
the  torture  could  not  be  applied  till  the  twentieth, 
when  the  physician  having  certified  that  he  was  then 
in  a  condition  to  endure  it,  an  audience  was  held, 
and  the  charges  against  the  prisoner  repeated,  to 
which  he  answered  that  he  had  nothing  to  reply, 
further  than  what  had  been  already  said.  He  was 
then  apprised  of  the  sentence  against  him,  and 
despatched  to  the  torture  room,  where  he  confess- 
ed that  he  had  uttered  many  of  the  assertions  im- 
puted to  him,  but  that  it  was  done  in  sport,  and  at 
times  when  his  companions  had  intoxicated  him, 
and  he*  was  not  conscious  of  what  he  said,  believ- 
ing in  his  heart  the  contrary  to  what  he  had  ut- 
tered. 

On  the  twentyfifth,an  audience  was  held,  in  which 
he  confirmed  without  alteration,  what  he  had  con- 


164  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

fessed  under  the  torture,  adding  that  he  had  made 
other  assertions  of  the  like  nature,  all  for  the  mo- 
tive above  stated,  and  without  entertaining  inward- 
ly any  belief  contrary  to  the  precepts  of  the  Holy 
Mother  Catholic  Church.  In  this  manner  the  pris- 
oner attempted  to  palliate  his  heretical  speeches. 
On  the  twentyseventh,  his  confessions  having  been 
examined,  they  were  attested,  and  the  censure 
previously  passed  upon  him  confirmed,  by  which 
he  was  declared  to  be  strongly  suspected  in  the 
faith.  On  the  twentyeighth,  a  final  decision  was  giv- 
en in  the  presence  of  Father  P.  Mro.  Fr.  Mariano 
Anglasell  as  Ordinary,  and  the  prisoner  was  sen- 
tenced unanimously  to  be  brought  into  the  hall  of 
the  tribunal,  and  there,  with  open  doors  before  the 
Secret  Ministers,  and  with  the  insignia  of  his  of- 
fences, to  hear  his  condemnation  read,  make  an 
abjuration  de  vehementi,  be  absolved  ad  cautelam, 
be  severely  reprehended,  admonished,  and  warned, 
and  then  to  be  banished  from  this  city,  Madrid, 
the  Court  of  His  Majesty,  and  the  town  of  Guisona 
and  Tarragona,  to  a  distance  of  eight  leagues,  for 
the  period  of  eight  years ;  the  first  five  of  them  to 
be  spent  in  confinement,  in  some  garrison  in  Afri- 
ca, to  be  fixed  upon  for  this  purpose,  and  that  he 
be  previously  intrusted  to  the  care  of  some  learned 
person  to  receive  instruction  in  the  faith. 

November,  1737. 
On  the  sixteenth  of  October  your  Highness  was 
pleased  to  order  that  the  prisoner  attend  at  an  auto 
defe  if  one  should  occur  soon,  otherwise  to  be  led 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION  1 65 

to  some  church  in  the  guise  of  a  penitent,  and 
there  hear  his  sentence  read,  make  an  abjuration 
de  levi,  be  severely  reprehended,  admonished,  and 
warned,  and  banished  for  life  from  Spain,  after 
passing  five  years  of  confinement  in  the  garrison 
of  Oran,  where  he  should  be  put  under  the  care 
of  some  learned  person,  to  receive  instruction  in 
the  mysteries  of  our  Holy  Faith.  On  the  third 
of  November,  the  sentence  was  executed  in  the 
church  of  Sta  Agueda.  The  same  day  he  was 
sworn  to  secrecy,  and  despatched  to  the  Royal 
Prison  of  this  city,  thence  to  be  transported  to  his 
confinement  in  Oran.  A  letter  was  sent  to  Father 
Fr.  Pablo  de  Colindus  at  that  place,  intrusting  to 
him  the  instruction  of  the  prisoner. 

Inquisition  of  Barcelona,  Nov.  23th,  1737. 

Don  Francisco  Antonio  de  Montoya  y  Zarate. 


July,  1739. 
Juan    Bautista      juan  Bautista  Segondi,  a  native  of 

Segondi,  imprison-  ° 

ed  for  the  crime  of  the  town  ot  rerpignan  in  h  ranee, 
ures?  inpr°isoneaof  an(^  an  inhabitant  of  this  city,  aged 
San  Francisco  Xa-  fortytwo  years,  a  married  man,  and 

vier.  l  yi 

Maintenance, two  by  trade  a  watchmaker,  confined  in 

sueldos,     and     the   .1  .  •  r    j.i_*       j.  *i.  1 

bread  of  the  Con-  the  secret  prison  of  this  tribunal, 
tractor.  with  a  sequestration  of  his  property, 

on  the  fourteenth  of  July,  for  superstitious  and  ne- 
cromantical  practices.  He  was  assigned  two 
sueldos  and  the  bread  of  the  Contractor,  on  ac- 
count of  the  Treasury,  as  little  of  the  prisoner's 


1 66  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

property  was  secured.  On  the  fifteenth,  the  first 
audience  was  held,  in  which  he  confessed  that  he 
had  used  the  hazel  rod  for  the  purpose  of  discov- 
ering the  situation  of  water,  metals,  and  mines, 
inheriting  the  capacity  to  practise  this  art,  from 
his  being  a  seventh  son,  without  the  intervention 
of  a  female,  and  being  born  in  the  month  of  May. 
He  stated  that  he  had  heard  his  father  declare 
such  persons  could  make  the  abovemention- 
ed  discoveries,  by  holding  the  hazel  rod  in  their 
hands.  On  the  twentieth  and  twentyfourth,  audi- 
ences were  held,  in  which  he  confessed  nothing 
more.  The  accusation  was  then  presented  against 
him,  the  several  specifications  of  which  he  granted 
to  be  true.  On  the  twentyfourth,  he  was  furnish- 
ed with  a  copy  of  the  accusation,  and  nominated 
for  his  counsel,  Dr  Joseph  Vila.  On  the  twenty- 
seventh,  an  audience  was  held,  in  which  he  com- 
municated with  his  advocate,  respecting  his  de- 
fence, and  the  cause  was  received  for  proof  in  a 
full  trial.  A  commission  was  granted  for  the  rati- 
fication of  the  testimony. 

August,  1739. 
The  testimony  having  been  ratified,  it  was  giv- 
en, in  publication,  on  the  nineteenth  of  this  month, 
at  which  time,  and  on  the  twentyfirst,  the  prisoner 
replied  thereto,  by  confessing  the  truth  of  the 
charges,  and  an  additional  one,  of  the  same  kind, 
being  produced  against  him,  it  was  also  given  in 
publication.  On  the  twentysixth,  an  audience  was 
held,  in  which  the  testimony,  and  the  responses  of 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  167 

the  prisoner  were  read  to  his  advocate,  Dr  Joseph 
Vila,  and  arrangements  were  made  for  the  defence. 

September,  1739. 
On  the  ninth  of  this  month,  the  defence  was 
offered,  and  on  the  twelfth,  the  cause  was  judged 
before  Father  Mro.  Fr.  Mariano  Anglasell,  as 
Judge  Ordinary,  and  sentence  was  passed  upon 
the  prisoner  ;  which  was,  that  he  be  brought  into 
the  hall  of  the  Tribunal,  and  there,  with  open 
doors,  hear  his  condemnation  read,  make  an  ab- 
juration de  levi,  be  severely  reprehended,  admon- 
ished, and  warned,  and  apprised,  that  if  he  commit 
the  smallest  act  of  the  nature  of  his  former  of- 
fences, he  shall  incur  the  penalty  of  two  hundred 
lashes.  It  was  also  ordered,  that  the  sentence,  be- 
fore execution,  be  submitted  to  your  Highness. 

October,  1739. 
The  confirmation  of  the  sentence  having  been 
received  on  the  ninth  of  this  month,  it  was  put  in 
execution  on  the  thirteenth,  on  which  day  audi- 
ence was  held  to  swear  secrecy  respecting  the 
prisons. 

Inquisition  of  Barcelona,  Oct.  31st,  1739. 
Don  Francisco  Antonio  de  Montoya  y  Zarate. 


168  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

July,  1731 
Joseph    Oliver.      Joseph  Oliver,  a  native  of  this  city, 

Prison  of  La  Cruz.  .     . 

Destitute.        aged  twentyseven  years,  a  married 

BS?sten!Sde,tthe  man'  and  by  occupation  a  husband- 
bread  of  the  Cou-  man.     Proceedings  were  instituted 

tractor.  .  .  .  .  ,  . 

against  this  person,  and  his  actions 
having  been  attested  to,  he  was  ordered,  on  the 
eleventh  of  this  month,  to  be  imprisoned,  with  a 
sequestration  of  his  property,  for  performing  su- 
perstitious and  magical  cures.  On  the  fifteenth  of 
this  month,  he  was  confined  in  the  secret  prison 
of  this  Holy  Office ;  and  on  the  seventeenth, 
eighteenth,  and  nineteenth,  audiences  were  held, 
in  the  last  of  which,  the  accusation  against  him 
was  presented.  In  the  aforementioned  audiences, 
and  in  his  answers  to  the  accusation,  he  confessed 
the  most  of  his  crimes.  On  the  twentieth  and 
twentyfirst,  he  communicated  with  his  counsel,  and 
the  case  was  admitted  for  proof  in  a  full  trial. 
The  customary  preparations  being  made,  and  the 
testimony  ratified,  the  proofs  are  preparing  for 
publication,  and  in  this  state  the  case  remains. 

August,  1731. 
On  the  eighteenth  and  twentyfirst  of  this  month, 
the  audience  for  publication  was  held,  and  the 
prisoner  having  answered  to  the  charges,  the  au- 
dience for  communication  with  his  counsel,  was 
held  on  the  twentyseventh.  By  the  advice  of  his 
advocate,  the  prisoner  concluded  his  defence 
without  alleging  anything  in  his  own  justification. 
In  this  state  the  case  remains. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  169 

September,  1731. 
On  the  sixth  of  this  month,  judgment  was  pro- 
nounced before  the  Ordinary,  and  the  prisoner  was 
unanimously  sentenced  to  attend  at  an  auto  de  fe 
if  one  should  take  place  soon,  otherwise  at  some 
church,  in  penitential  guise,  with  the  insignia  of 
his  crimes ;  and  there  hear  his  condemnation 
read,  make  an  abjuration  de  levi,  be  severely  re- 
prehended, admonished,  and  warned,  and  be  banish- 
ed eight  leagues  from  this  city,  Madrid,  and  the 
Court  of  His  Majesty,  for  the  period  of  ten  years, 
being  first  confined  three  years  in  the  garrison  of 
this  city  of  Barcelona.  It  was  also  ordered,  that, 
before  the  execution  of  the  sentence,  it  be  submit- 
ted to  your  Highness. 

October,  1731. 

On  the  first  of  this  month,  the  answer  of  your 
Highness  was  received,  ordering  that  the  prison- 
er should  hear  his  condemnation,  and  undergo  the 
first  part  of  his  sentence  in  the  hall  of  the  tribunal, 
then  to  be  banished  as  above  specified,  for  the 
period  of  five  years.  This  order  was  executed  on 
the  fifth,  when  the  prisoner  was  sworn  to  secrecy 
respecting  the  prisons,  and  forthwith  despatched. 

Dr  Don  Miguel  Vizente  Cebrian  y  Augustin. 


December,   1732. 

Bias  Ramirez,  a  native  of  the  village  of  Paya, 
in  La  Huerta,  bishopric  of  Murcia,  a  soldier  in  the 


1  70  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

regiment  of  dragoons  of  Tarragona,  aged  thirty- 
two  years.  Sent  prisoner  to  this  Holy  Office,  by 
Dr  Jacinto  Christofol,  Curate  of  the  town  of  La 
Sclva,  in  the  archbishopric  of  Tarragona,  and 
Commissary  of  the  Holy  Office.  A  letter  accom- 
panied the  prisoner  from  this  Commissary,  dated 
the  eighth  of  November,  and  another  of  the 
same  date  was  received  from  Dr  Joseph  Solano, 
chaplain  of  the  regiment  abovementioned.  In 
both  of  these  it  was  stated  that  the  said  Bias  Ra- 
mirez had  made  a  league  with  the  devil,  according 
to  his  own  spontaneous  confession.  The  afore- 
mentioned Dr  Joseph  Solano  having  communicat- 
ed the  case  to  the  Archbishop  of  Tarragona,  he 
was  directed  by  him  to  transmit  information  of  the 
same  to  the  Commissary  Dr  Jacinto  Christofol, 
who  apprehended  the  said  Bias  Ramirez,  and  sent 
him  under  a  guard  to  this  Holy  Office.  On  the 
thirteenth  of  November,  Luis  Pusol,  the  Familiar, 
gave  him  in  charge  to  the  Alcayde  of  the  secret 
prisons,  and  on  the  same  day  the  Inquisitor  Fiscal 
offered  a  request  that  he  might  be  kept  in  the  car- 
celes  comunes,  till  the  letter  of  the  above  Dr  Joseph 
Solano  should  be  examined,  and  his  reasons  explain- 
ed for  putting  him  into  the  hands  of  the  Commissary 
as  an  offender  against  the  faith,  as  well  as  to  as- 
certain if  there  existed  other  evidence  against  him 
besides  his  confession.  On  the  sixteenth  a  com- 
mission for  making  investigations  upon  this  head 
was  granted  to  Dr  Mariano  Morlaus,  Commissary 
of  the  Holy  Office,  in  the  town  of  Tarragona,  as 
the   regiment  abovementioned   was  quartered    in 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  171 

that  town  and  the  neighbourhood.  On  the  twentieth 
the  commission  was  returned  with  the  information 
that  the  abovementioned  Dr  Joseph  Solano  had 
left  that  place  for  Logrono,  there  to  remain  till 
Lent. 

In  the  meantime  the  prisoner  requested  an  au- 
dience, which  was  granted  on  the  nineteenth  of 
November,  and  he  made  the  following  declaration. 
When  he  was  a  youth  he  lived  with  the  Curate  of 
his  village,  and  performed  the  offices  of  cooking, 
sweeping  the  house,  and  such  other  work  as  is 
usually  performed  by  women,  on  which  account 
some  people  called  him  a  hermaphrodite,  which, 
however,  was  not  the  fact.  After  his  master  died 
he  suffered  much  poverty  and  mortification  on  ac- 
count of  the  ridicule  which  this  brought  upon  him. 
He  joined  the  religious  orders  of  St  Francis  and 
St  Dominic,  but  was  expelled  from  both  when  the 
report  became  current  that  he  was  a  hermaphro- 
dite. Finding  himself  overwhelmed  with  vexation 
and  poverty,  he  at  last  invoked  the  devil  to  assist 
him  in  his  misfortunes,  offering  him  his  soul  if  he 
would  change  his  appearance  into  that  of  a  wo- 
man, that  he  might  earn  a  living  by  prostitution. 
The  devil  accordingly  appeared  to  him  several 
times,  first  in  a  human  shape  and  afterwards  in 
that  of  a  monstrous  animal.  He  demanded  a  cer- 
tificate of  the  possession  of  his  soul,  which  he  was 
unwilling  to  grant,  but  offered  to  give  him  his  word 
to  surrender  himself  after  seven  years,  if  the  devil 
would  grant  him  his  conditions.  He  afterwards  re- 
pented of  his  iniquitous  practices,  and  sought  a  rem- 


172  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

edy  for  his  soul  by  following  the  directions  of  the 
Rector  of  the  town  of  La  Selva,  Commissary  of 
the  Holy  Office,  and  those  of  the  Chaplain  of  his 
regiment,  Dr  Joseph  Solano,  which  persons,  in 
consequence  of  his  confessions,  transmitted  him  a 
prisoner  to  this  Holy  Office.  A  request  has  been 
made  that  letters  be  sent  to  the  Inquisition  of 
Navarre,  demanding  an  examination  of  the  said 
Dr  Joseph  Solano. 

April,  1733. 
Letters  were  sent  to  the  Tribunal  of  the  Inqui- 
sition of  Logrono,  requesting  an  examination  of 
Dr  Joseph  Solano,  who  was  residing  in  that  dis- 
trict. On  the  twentieth  of  November,  a  letter 
was  received  from  Dr  Mariano  Morlans,  Commis- 
sary of  the  Holy  Office  in  the  town  of  Tarrega, 
bishopric  of  Solsona,  stating  that  a  priest  of  that 
town  was  ready  to  denounce  the  prisoner,  from 
what  he  had  heard  of  the  colonel  of  his  regiment 
respecting  his  compact  with  the  devil.  On  the 
twentysecond  of  the  same  month,  a  commission 
was  demanded  for  the  abovementioned  Dr  Maria- 
no Morlans  to  examine  the  said  priest,  and  sum- 
mon the  colonel  referred  to,  as  a  witness  against 
the  prisoner.  On  the  eleventh  of  December  fol- 
lowing, the  said  Commissary  Morlans  transmitted 
the  information  against  the  prisoner,  gathered  from 
thirteen  witnesses,  most  of  whom  deposed  that 
they  positively  knew  the  prisoner  to  be  a  woman, 
and  one  of  them  stated  that  he  had  asked  the 
prisoner  how  she  could,  being  a  woman,  procure 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  UNQUlSITlOiNf.  173 

such  a  thick  beard.  She  replied  that  she  had  pro- 
duced it  with  the  help  of  an  ointment ;  that  she 
had  been  seduced  and  abandoned  in  her  youth  ; 
that  she  afterwards  dressed  herself  like  a  man, 
and  turned  soldier. 

Another  of  the  witnesses  deposed  that  the  pris- 
oner informed  him  she  was  once  a  boy,  and  en- 
tertained a  wish  to  become  a  female  from  her  at- 
tachment to  a  young  man.  That  the  devil  ap- 
peared to  her  in  the  shape  of  a  handsome  youth,  and 
demanded  what  she  wanted ;  to  which  she  replied 
that  she  wished  for  the  shape  of  a  female.  This 
the  devil  granted  her,  and  they  made  a  compact, 
by  virtue  of  which  she  was  to  be  alternately  male 
and  female,  changing  sex  every  seven  years  ;  which 
alteration  she  had  effected  by  means  of  a  certain 
herb. 

On  the  seventeenth  of  December,  the  Inquisi- 
tor Fiscal  requested  that  the  acts  and  declara- 
tions of  the  prisoner  might  be  attested,  and  this 
having  been  done  in  a  junta  of  four  Calificadores, 
the  same  persons  unanimously  presented  the  pris- 
oner as  a  wizard,  sorcerer,  and  one  holding  an  ex- 
plicit compact  with  the  devil. 

The  information  above  specified  having  been 
received  distinct  from  the  prisoner's  own  declara- 
tion, in  the  audience  which  he  had  requested,  the 
Inquisitor  Fiscal  petitioned  that  he  might  not  be 
tried  as  an  Espontaneo*  on  account  of  what  he 

*  One  who  makes  a  voluntary  confession,  and  takes  his  trial  on  the 
strength  of  the  evidence  which  he  gives  against  himself,  rather  than 
the  testimony  of  other  witnesses. 


174  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

had  concealed  in  his  confession,  that  he  might  be 
removed  into  the  secret  prison,  and  his  trial  in- 
stituted forthwith.  On  the  eighteenth  of  the  same 
month,  orders  were  issued  for  confining  him  in 
the  secret  prison,  and  commencing  his  trial.  Three 
audiences  were  held,  in  which  he  confessed  no- 
thing beyond  what  he  had  declared  in  his  first  con- 
fession on  the  thirteenth  of  November.  On  the 
twentyfirst  of  January  the  accusation  was  present- 
ed, and  an  audience  was  held  the  same  day,  when 
the  prisoner  replied  to  the  charges.  On  the  two 
following  days  the  acts  which  he  had  omitted  in 
his  confession  were  attested,  and  the  prisoner  de- 
clared that  although  in  the  bargain  which  he  had 
made  with  the  devil  he  had  offered  to  surrender 
up  his  soul,  yet  he  had  not  paid  him  any  worship, 
nor  abjured  our  Holy  Faith,  notwithstanding  he 
internally  consented  to  the  delivery  of  his  soul, 
and  in  consequence  departed  from  our  Holy  Faith 
and  God  our  Lord. 

The  prisoner  was  furnished  with  a  copy  of  the 
accusation,  and  on  the  twentyfourth  conferred 
with  his  counsel,  reserving  his  defence  till  after 
the  publication  of  the  testimony.  The  case  was 
then  admitted  for  proof,  and  the  witnesses  residing 
at  a  great  distance,  and  in  various  places,  the  rat- 
ification of  the  testimony  was  delayed  for  some 
time.  The  business  being  finally  accomplished, 
publication  of  the  testimony  was  made  on  the  thir- 
teenth and  fourteenth  of  April.  In  the  audiences 
which  were  held  on  those  days,  the  prisoner  de- 
clared nothing  of  consequence.      The  audience 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  1  75 

for  communication  with  his  counsel  was  held  on 
the  sixteenth,  and  that  for  the  defence  will  be  held 

as  soon  as  possible. 

*****         *         * 

[Here  occurs  a  chasm  in  the  manuscript.] 


July,  1740. 
Juan     Ginesta,       juan    Ginesta,   a  native   of  this 

confined  in  the  se- 
cret prison,  city,    aged    twentyfive    years,    was 

Martyrs!    °        &  confined  in  the  secret  prison  on  the 
Maintenance, two  sixth  0f  julle,  with  sequestration  of 

sueldos     and     the  .  . 

bread  of  the  Con-  of  property,  for  performing  magical 
cures  and  deceptive  tricks,  and  ut- 
tering speeches  against  our  Holy  Faith.  The  first 
audience  was  held  on  the  eighth,  when  he  confess- 
ed that  he  had  taught  a  person  to  perform  cures  by 
the  application  of  certain  remedies,  and  the  uttering 
of  a  prayer ;  and  also  that  he  had  practised  the  same 
arts  himself.  On  the  ninth,  another  audience  was 
held,  in  which  he  confessed  other  practices  of  the 
same  nature,  and  that  he  had  uttered  many 
speeches,  by  way  of  joke  and  pastime.  On  the 
fifteenth,  the  third  audience  was  held,  in  which  he 
declared,  that  having  been  questioned  several 
times  whether  he  had  been  in  the  Inquisition,  he 
had  answered,  Yes.  The  accusation  against  him 
was  presented  on  the  eighteenth,  at  which  time, 
and  on  the  twentyfirst  and  twentyfifth,  the  prison- 
er answered  to  the  charges,  confessing  the  per- 
formance of  the   cures  imputed  to   him,  and  the 


176  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

mode  of  executing  them,  denying  withal  some 
parts  of  the  accusation.  On  the  twentyfifth,  he 
was  ordered  to  be  furnished  with  a  copy  of  the 
accusation  for  the  purpose  of  making  his  defence 
within  three  days.  He  nominated  for  his  advocate 
Dr  Manuel  Bonvehi.  On  the  twentyseventh,  an 
audience  was  held,  in  which  the  prisoner  commu- 
nicated with  his  counsel  respecting  his  defence. 
The  Inquisitor  Fiscal  demanded  ratification  of 
the  testimony,  and  the  case  was  admitted  for 
proof  in  a  full  trial.  The  testimony  was  then 
ratified  and  given  in  publication  on  the  thirteenth, 
fifteenth,  and  nineteenth  of  July.  On  the  twenty- 
third  an  audience  was  held,  in  which  the  prisoner 
conferred  with  his  counsel.  The  publication  of 
the  testimony  was  read  to  him,  and  he  was  fur- 
nished with  the  necessary  papers  for  drawing  up 
the  defence.  On  the  twentyninth  an  audience 
was  held,  when  the  prisoner's  counsel  presented 
the  defence,  and  demanded  investigations ;  for 
which  purpose  a  commission  was  granted  on  the 
same  day. 

September,  1740. 
The  result  of  the  investigations  was  presented 
on  the  third  of  August,  and  on  the  eighth,  were 
communicated  to  the  prisoner's  counsel,  when  the 
defence  was  concluded.  On  the  eleventh,  before 
the  Judge  Ordinary,  the  Most  Reverend  Father, 
M.  Fr.  Mariano  Anglasel  Merzenario,  sentence 
was  passed  that  the  prisoner  be  brought  into  the 
hall  of  the  tribunal,  and  there,  with  closed  doors, 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  177 

in  the  presence  of  the  Secret  Ministers,  hear  his 
condemnation  read,  be  reprehended,  admonished, 
and  warned,  and  afterwards  banished  eight  leagues 
from  this  city,  Madrid,  and  the  Court  of  His  Majes- 
ty, for  the  period  of  two  years  ;  which  sentence 
was  submitted  to  your  Highness  on  the  thirteenth 
of  the  same  month,  and  on  the  tenth  of  Septem- 
ber the  answer  was  received  ordering  the  first  part 
of  the  sentence  to  be  executed  as  above  specified, 
and  the  prisoner  to  be  banished  for  one  year. 
This  was  carried  into  execution  on  the  eleventh 
of  September,  and  the  audience  held  for  binding 
the  prisoner  to  secrecy  and  taking  the  customary 
precautions  respecting  the  prison ;  after  which 
an  order  was  despatched  to  the  Alcayde  to  take 
him  from  his  confinement. 

Inquisition  of  Barcelona,  Sept.  27th,  1740. 
Don  Francisco  Antonio  de  Montoya  y  Zarate. 


23 


178 


MISCELLANEOUS  DOCUMENTS. 

Augustin  Tamarit,  a  physician,  of  the  town  of  Sa- 
hts,  was  imprisoned  in  the  Inquisition  on  the  third  of 
July,  1757,  and  tried  for  heretical  speeches.  The 
following  are  some  of  the  articles  of  the  accusation, 
with  the  imputed  assertions  qualified ;  that  is,  their 
character  and  tendency  formally  pronounced  by  the 
officers  of  the  Inquisition. 


In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  twentyninth  day  of  March,  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  fiftysix,  at  the  morn- 
ing audience,  the  Inquisitors  Licentiate  Don 
Joseph  Otero  y  Cossio,  Licentiate  Dr  Manuel  de 
Guell  y  Serra  as  Calificadores,  and  Father  Maria- 
no Alberich,  Jesuit,  Fray  Augustin  Voltas,  Domi- 
nican, Fray  Raphael  Talavera,  Minim,  and  Fray 
Buenaventura  de  Lanuza,  Observante,  all  of  this 
Holy  Office — having  read  article  by  article  the 
following  propositions,  qualified  them  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner. 

A  certain  person,  a  native  of  these  kingdoms, 
has  asserted, 

That  the  Moors  were  wealthy,  prosperous,  and 
in  the  enjoyment  of  plentiful  rain,  directly  the  re- 
verse of  us  Christians,  and  concluded  by  saying 
'  What  remains  for  us  but  to  join  the  Moors? '  On 
another  occasion  he  asserted  that  it  was   better  to 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  179 

be  bad  than  good,  as  good   people  were  generally 
poor,  and  bad  ones  rich. 

The  first  part  of  this  proposition  is  scandalous,  sa- 
vouring of  Molinism  and  apostacy.  The  last  is  heret- 
ical. 

Speaking  of  the  bishops,  he  said,  in  answer  to  a 
question,  'What  power  have  they  to  ordain  priests  ?' 

This  proposition  is  insulting  to  the  episcopal  dig- 
nity, and  by  the  way  in  which  it  is  expressed,  the 
inference  is  drawn  that  it  is  virtually  heretical. 

That  the  friars  and  ecclesiastics  devoured  the 
people,  and  that  the  king  ought  to  take  them  into 
his  service,  by  which  means  he  would  have  soldiers 
enow. 

This  is  scandalous,  and  insulting  to  the  ecclesias- 
tical and  secular  state. 

That  the  figures  of  the  Saints  were  said  to  work 
miraclss,  and  if  this  were  the  fact,  let  one  of  them 
be  thrown  into  the  river  to  see  if  he  could  save 
himself. 

Blasphemous  and  virtually  heretical. 

That  it  was  a  great  pity  for  a  man  to  be  obliged 
to  tell  another,  meaning  the  Confessor,  every- 
thing he  did,  and  that  it  would  be  better  to  speak 
into  a  hole  and  stop  it  up,  for  '  what  good  did  con- 
fession do  ?'  That  he  went  to  confession  but  once 
a  year,  signifying  that  but  for  constraint  he  would 
not  go  at  all. 

This  is  heretical,  as  it  is  a  scorning  of  the  Divine 
institution  of  sacramental  confession. 

Speaking  of  the  supplications  which  are  made 
for  rain,  he  asked,  ;What  use  is  there   in   running 


1  80  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

after  these  Saints,  and  what  power  have  they  to 
make  it  rain?  What  is  the  use  of  carrying  in  pro- 
cession these  images  ?'  meaning  several,  and 
among  others  that  of  Nuestra  Seiiora  del  Coll,  'as 
they  are  nothing  but  bits  of  wood  or  stone.' 

A  heretical  blasphemy. 

Speaking  of  the  Bull  of  the  Santa  Cruzada,  he 
asserted  that  if  he  was  sovereign,  he  would  hang 
every  one  who  received  the  Bull. 

This  is  insulting,  et  sapiens  hceresin. 

Speaking  of  the  chapels  and  hermitages  in  the 
village  where  he  lived,  he  asked  *  What  do  those 
images  do  there?  '  meaning,  'Why  do  not  people 
destroy  them  ?  '  # 

A  heretical  blasphemy. 

Others  saying  to  him  '  Let  us  go  to  mass,'  he 
answered  by  asking,  '  What  could  they  get  by  hear- 
ing mass  ?  '  thus  disturbing  the  devotions  of  the 
hearers,  and  scorning  this  holy  performance. 

Considered  in  connexion  with  the  other  assertions, 
this  is  scandalous,  and  sapiens  hceresin. 

Speaking  of  Indulgences,  he  said  with  some 
contempt,  that  he  should  value  six  dineros  more 
than  all  the  Indulgences  together,  and  that  they 
were  good  for  nothing. 

Scandalous  and  heretical. 

Speaking  of  prodigies  and  miracles,  he  said  that 
from  the  time  of  Christ  to  the  present  day  there 
had  been  no  miracles,  that  he  knew  this  well, 
since  he  had  conversed  with  a  learned  person. 
On  another  occasion,  discoursing  on  the  same 
subject,  he  said,  that  God  had  never  performed  a 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  181 

miracle,  and  he  knew  it,  making  at  the  same  time 
the  sign  of  the  cross  upon  his  forehead. 

Heretical. 

Speaking  of  tithes,  he  asserted  that,  were  it  not 
for  compulsion,  he  would  not  pay  tithes,  and  that 
it  would  be  better  for  people  to  enjoy  the  fruit  of 
their  labors  themselves,  and  not  the  ecclesiastics. 

Insulting  and  scandalous. 

Speaking  of  burials  and  supplications  for  the 
dead,  he  asserted  that  when  he  died  he  would  as 
willingly  be  interred  in  common,  as  in  consecrated 
ground,  and  that  but  for  compulsion  he  would  not 
have  a  mass  said  for  his  soul. 

Sapit  hcyresin. 

He  spoke  with  disrespect  of  the  Holy  Inquisi- 
tion, and  said  that  the  Inquisition  corrected  none 
but  madmen  and  fools,  making  them  declare  just 
what  was  desired,  and  then  punishing  them. 

Scandalous  and  insulting  to  the  Holy  Tribunal. 

The  bells  tolling  for  a  dead  person,  some  one 
said  to  him, '  Let  us  say  a  paternoster  for  the  dead,' 
to  which  he  replied  with  contempt,  '  To  what  pur- 
pose all  these  prayers  for  the  dead  ?  '  The  other 
person  answering  that  they  were  supplications  for 
his  soul  if  in  Purgatory,  inasmuch  as  the  souls, 
which  do  not  go  to  heaven  or  hell,  are  detained  in 
Purgatory,  he  replied  scoffingly  to  this  effect : 
'  Who  has  ever  been  in  Heaven,  Hell,  or  Purgato- 
ry, to  tell  us  what  becomes  of  the  souls  of  the 
dead  ?'  adding,  that  sooner  than  die  he  would  be 
transformed  to  a  horse,  an  ant,  or  any  other  ani- 
mal, for  dead  men   never  come   back,  and   that 


182  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

when  dead  he  would   as  willingly   be    buried  in 
rubbish  as  in  consecrated  ground. 

Heretical. 

Speaking  of  supplications  for  rain,  he  said  they 
were  good  for  nothing,  and  that  it  was  nonsense 
to  waste  money  for  this"  purpose,  for  whether  sup- 
plications were  made  or  not,  it  would  rain  and 
shine  just  as  it  did  in  other  parts  of  the  world  ; 
that  the  rain  depended  upon  the  clouds,  and  God 
did  not  concern  himself  about  it,  adding,  '  Search 
in  what  part  God  exists  to  make  it  rain  ;'  and  some 
one  answering  him,  he  repeated  that  they  must 
get  this  error  out  of  their  heads,  about  supplicating 
for  rain,  as  it  was  of  no  effect. 

Scandalous  and  heretical. 

That  St  Thomas  committed  errors  like  the  rest, 
and  that  it  was  useless  to  cite  the  authority  of  the 
Holy  Fathers,  for  they  were  not  to  the  purpose. 

Scandalous  and  insulting  to  the  Holy  Fathers. 

That  we  could  not  be  certain  that  the  supplica- 
tions produced  rain  or  cured  sickness,  and  that  it 
was  superstitious  to  believe   so  as  the  vulgar  did. 

Heretical. 

The  person  who  uttered  the  above  sayings  is 
declared  unanimously  to  be  a  scandalous,  pre- 
sumptuous, and  insulting  blasphemer  of  the  Saints, 
Holy  Fathers,  the  Pope,  and  Ecclesiastical  State, 
and  to  be  suspected  de  vehementi. 

Mariano  Alberich. 
Fr.  Rafael  Talavera. 
Fr.  Augustin  Voltas. 
F.  Buenaventina  de  Lanuza. 
.Than  Antonio  Almonacid,  Sec'y. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  183 

[Dr  Tamarit,  however,  was  fortunate  enough  to  es- 
cape with  a  penance,  the  customary  reprimands  and 
threats  in  case  of  repeating  his  offences,  and  an  im- 
prisonment of  about  three  months. ,] 


In  the  town  of  Cardona,  in  the  bishopric  of 
Celsona,  on  the  thirtieth  of  May,  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  fortyeight,  in  the  afternoon,  ap- 
peared voluntarily,  before  the  Revered  Joseph 
Riera,  Presbyter  and  Commissary  of  the  Holy  Of- 
fice of  the  Inquisition,  and  Dr  Pablo  Serra,  Pres- 
byter Rector  of  the  said  town  of  Cardona,  and  No- 
tary, sworn,  a  woman  calling  herself  Vitoria  Sala, 
wife  of  Hermenter  Sala,  who  came,  as  she  stated, 
to  give  information  of  something  relating  to  the 
Holy  Office. 

Questioned,  what  she  had  to  declare. 

Answered,  that  about  a  year  ago,  while  she  was 
confessing  herself  in  the  church  of  San  Diego,  of  the 
aforesaid  town  of  Cardona,  to  Father  Fr.  Felix 
Coll,  a  regular  Ecclesiastic  of  St  Francisco,  and  at 
that  time  Conventual  of  the  Convent  of  San  Diego, 
on  many  occasions  during  the  act  of  confession  or 
immediately  after,  and  while  in  the  confessionary, 
he  had  told  her  that  he  should  ruin  her,  and  many 
times  he  practised  touching  her  face,  thighs,  and 
back.  On  one  occasion  he  endeavored  to  feel  of 
her  bosom  but  she  prevented  him.  At  other  times 
he  touched  and  squeezed  her  with  his  hands,  and 
in  one  instance  attempted  to  kiss  her,   which  she 


1  84  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION 

avoided  by  turning  away  her  head.  He  told  her 
that  she  must  not  discover  these  things  to  any  oth- 
er confessor,  for  he  did  not  behave  thus  with  any 
bad  intention,  but  for  the  purpose  of  removing  her 
scruples,  and  that  it  would  be  for  her  benefit. 

The  deponent  was  informed  that  the  Promotor 
Fiscal  of  the  Holy  Office  presented  her  as  a  wit- 
ness in  a  cause  under  his  direction  against  the 
said  Father  Fr.  Felix.  She  was  directed  to  give 
attention  while  her  deposition  was  read  word  for 
word,  and  she  declared  that  it  was  all  true,  and 
that  she  had  nothing  to  add,  diminish,  or  alter, 
respecting  it,  as  it  was  the  truth,  and  if  necessary 
she  was  ready  to  repeat  it  anew  against  the  said 
Father  Fr.  Felix  Coll ;  that  she  did  not  make  the 
declaration  out  of  malice  or  ill  will,  but  solely  to 
discharge  her  conscience.  The  said  Vitoria  not 
being  able  to  write,  1,  the  said  Commissary,  sign 
in  her  name. 

Joseph  Riera,  Presbyter  Commissary. 

Before  me — 

Pablo  Serra,  Presbyter,  Rector  of  Cardona, 

sworn  Notary. 


In  the  town  of  Cardona,  in  the  bishopric  of 
Celsona,  on  the  fourth  of  August,  one  thousand  six 
hundred  and  ninetyeight,  before  the  Revered  Jo- 
seph Riera,  Commissary  of  the  Holy  Office  of  the 
Inquisition,  appeared,  according  to  summons  from 
Celadonio  Siejas,  sworn  Nuncio  of  the  Holy  Office, 
a  woman  calling  herself  Vitoria  Salas,  an  inhabitant 
of  the  town  of  Cardona,  in  the  bishopric  of  Celso- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  185 

na,  aged,  as  she  stated,  thirtyfive  years,  more  or 
less.  She  was  formally  sworn  to  declare  the  truth 
and  preserve  secrecy. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  why  she  was  summon- 
ed to  appear. 

Answered,  that  she  supposed  it  to  be  on  ac- 
count of  the  following  statement  which  she  had 
made  to  the  Inquisition.  She  had  confessed  her- 
self in  the  chapel  of  San  Luis,  or  the  church  of 
the  Convent  of  San  Diego,  in  the  town  of  Cardo- 
na,  to  Father  Fr.  Felix  Coll,  of  the  order  of  St 
Francisco,  then  residing  in  the  said  convent,  and, 
during  confession  or  immediately  after,  while  in 
the  confessionary  of  that  chapel,  where  he  was 
deputed  to  hear  confessions  from  February  till 
September,  1697,  he,  at  various  times  to  the  num- 
ber of  twenty  or  twentyfive,  touched  her  with  his 
hands,  squeezed  her  face  and  neck,  and  on  one 
occasion  attempted  to  kiss  her,  but  she  prevented 
him  by  turning  away  her  head.  Also,  on  another 
occasion,  he  told  her  that  he  should  ruin  her,  and 
that  she  must  not  speak  of  it  or  discover  it  to  any 
one,  as  he  did  not  act  from  any  bad  intention,  but 
that  all  was  done  for  her  benefit.  He  further  told 
her  that  he  wanted  to  go  to  her  house. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  that  this  person  had 
solicited  any  others  during  confession  or  immedi- 
ately before  or  after. 

Answered,  that  she  had  no  knowledge  of  any 
such  matter,  but  had  been  told  by  Marianna  Guer 
y  Savall,  that  the  same  Father  Fr.  Felix  Coll   had 


24 


J  8G  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

squeezed  her  hands  in  the  act  of  confession  sever- 
al times. 

The  above  is  the  truth  according  to  the  oath  of 
the  deponent.  She  was  enjoined  secrecy,  which 
site  promised.     I  sign  in  her  name, 

Before  me —  Vitoria  Sala. 

Dr  Pablo  Serra  Presbyter, 

Rector  of  Cardona,  &c. 


MOST    ILLUSTRIOUS    SIR, 

When  the  guilty  acknowledge  their  offences 
and  repent  with  sorrow,  God  accepts  them  and 
grants  them  his  most  holy  grace;  and  inasmuch 
as  I  have  been  so  unfortunate  as  to  commit  some 
offences  which  relate  to  this  Holy  Tribunal,  I 
transmit  the  following  confession  of  them,  not  be- 
ing able  to  present  myself  in  person. 

I  was  accustomed  frequently  in  the  town  of 
Cardona,  to  hear  the  confessions  of  a  married  wo- 
man named  Vitoria  Sala.  I  never  took  any  great 
liberties  with  her,  but  touched  her  a  few  times 
while  in  the  confessionary.  Neither  I  nor  she  had 
any  bad  intention  in  this,  but  as  I  perceived  that 
she  was  affected  with  some  internal  inquietude,  I 
took  her  by  the  hand  and  touched  her  face  and 
bosom  with  the  other,  as  also  her  neck ;  this  I  did 
thirty  or  forty  times.  These  slight  faults  I  confess 
before  God  and  the  Holy  Tribunal  on  account  of 
the  scandal  which  they  may  occasion.  I  cast  my- 
self at  the  feet  of  your  Excellency,  hoping  to  have 
my  offences  overlooked  with  love  and  charity,  and 
promising  henceforth   the   amendment  of  my  er- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  1  H7 

rors.  Trusting  in  this  my  conscience  remains 
quiet,  and  I  continue  secure  in  my  obedience, 
praying  to  God  for  the  prosperity  of  your  Excel- 
lency. 

Gerona,  September  fourteenth,  1697. 

Your  most  humble  servant,  who  kisses  the  feet 
of  your  Excellency,  Fr.  Felix  Coll. 


MOST    ILLUSTRIOUS    SIR, 

Since  my  letter  of  the  fourteenth  of  September, 
to  your  Excellency,  I  have  conducted  myself  with 
great  circumspection  on  account  of  the  charges  I 
made  to  your  Excellency  against  myself  for  faults 
committed  against  the  Holy  Tribunal.  And  as  I 
am  hindered  from  presenting  myself  at  the  feet  of 
your  Excellency,  I  again  place  myself  in  the  same 
condition,  under  the  shelter  and  patronage  of  the 
Holy  Tribunal,  in  order  that  your  Excellency,  as 
the  father  of  all  piety  and  clemency,  may  clear  my 
conscience  and  soul.  Your  Excellency  must  know 
then,  that  during  a  year  which  I  lived  in  the  town 
of  Cardona  as  preacher  of  the  convent,  I  was  in 
the  practice  of  confessing  a  certain  female  named 
Vitoria  Sala,  who  was  afflicted  with  many  scruples, 
and  in  order  to  remove  them  at  the  pressing  in- 
stances of  her  husband,  1  suffered  myself  to  be  led 
away  by  the  devil  so  far  as  to  behave  with  much 
impropriety  towards  her,  as  on  many  occasions 
when  she  was  at  my  feet,  I  uttered  to  her  very  un- 
chaste language,  touching  her  bosom  and  face  with 
my  hands.  This  I  did  to  the  amount  of  seventy 
times  or  thereabout.    Also,  being  without  the  con 


1  88  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

fessionary,  I  gave  her  many  embraces,  and  solicit- 
ed her  to  love  me.  Although  it  be  true  that  I 
practised  these  evil  deeds,  yet  by  the  mercy  of 
God  I  did  not  injure  her  honor  or  reputation. 

Furthermore  at  the  same  time  I  was  so  forget- 
ful of  my  duty,  that,  falling  unhappily  in  company 
with  a  female  named  Marianna  Guer  y  Savall, 
who  came  to  the  holy  confessionary  to  confess 
her  faults  to  me,  which  faults  were  committed  in 
my  own  person,  the  devil  was  so  crafty  that  he 
caused  me,  a  miserable  sinner,  to  be  led  away  in 
ten  or  twelve  instances  to  speak  language  of  en- 
dearment to  her,  and  touch  her  bosom  and  face. 
These,  father  of  all  clemency,  are  my  depraved 
actions  in  the  Holy  Sacrament  of  penitence.  In- 
stead of  directing  these  two  souls  in  the  way  of 
salvation,  I  led  them  to  the  devil  by  reason  of  my 
incontinence,  malice,  and  little  fear  of  God.  And 
now,  as  God  has  granted  me  time,  place,  and  oc- 
casion, I  throw  myself,  like  another  Prodigal  Son, 
at  your  feet,  that  like  a  loving  father  you  may  ex- 
tend toward  me  whatever  may  be  requisite  to 
punish  my  heavy  sins  and  offences,  promising 
henceforth,  to  amend  my  evil  ways,  that  the  light 
of  God  may  shine  more  clear.  May  God  prosper 
and  guard  the  infinite  years  of  your  Excellency. 

Barcelona,  May  seventeenth,  1698. 

Your  most  unworthy  servant,  who  kisses 

the  feet  of  your  Excellency, 

Fr.  Felix  Coll. 

P.  S.  Although  1  write  from  this  city,  yet  I 
have  come  hither  to  throw   myself  at  the   feet  of 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  1  89 

your  Excellency.      My  residence   is  in  the  Con- 
vent of  St  Francisco  in  Gerona. 


In  the  Imperial  College  of  Tortosa,  on  the 
eighteenth  day  of  March,  seventeen  hundred,  the 
Inquisitor  Licentiate,  Don  Juan  Joseph  Hualte  pre- 
siding sole  in  the  afternoon  audience,  having  ex- 
amined the  information  and  proceedings  in  this  In- 
quisition against  Fr.  Felix  Coll,  an  Ecclesiastic 
and  Confessor,  of  the  Order  of  St  Francisco,  and  a 
resident  in  the  Convent  of  that  order  in  Gerona, 

Ordered  that  he  be  reprehended,  admonished, 
and  directed  to  refrain  from  confessing  females  in 
private  ;  submitting  this  sentence  to  the  Council. 

Before  me — 

Don  Juan  de  Castilla. 

[Further  proceedings  were  carried  on  against  this 
person,  but  suspended  by  his  death.'] 


In  the  town  of  Besahi,  on  the  twentysecond 
day  of  February,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
eightyfour,  before  me,  Estevan  Castanir,  Pres- 
byter and  Curate  of  the  Parochial  Church  of  St 
Vicente,  and  me,  Lorenzo  Terrader,  Presbyter 
and  Canon  of  the  Collegial  Church  of  Besahi, 
Notary,  sworn  to  preserve  secrecy  and  perform 
faithfully  our  duties,  appeared,  according  to  sum- 
mons, and  made  oath  to  declare  the  truth,  and 
preserve  secrecy,  Juan  Ilicart,  porter  royal,  a  na- 


190  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

tive  of  the  above  town,  of  age,  as  he  stated,  thir- 
tyfive  years  or  thereabout. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  the  cause  of  his  being 
summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  he  could  conjecture  nothing. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  that  any  person  had  said 
aught  which  was,  or  appeared  to  be  contrary  to 
our  Holy  Catholic  Faith  and  Evangelical  Doc- 
trine. 

Answered,  No. 

He  was  then  given  to  understand  that  informa- 
tion had  been  received  and  sworn  to  in  this  Holy 
Office,  that  a  certain  person  had,  accompanied 
by  others,  been  to  a  certain  castle  in  search  of  en- 
chanted money  ;  that  they  had  signed  a  compact 
with  the  devil ;  that  on  reading  a  book  the  devil 
had  appeared  to  them  and  promised  them  riches  ; 
and  that  he,  the  said  Juan  Ricart  could  give  intel- 
ligence of  these  and  many  other  things.  For  this 
reason  he  was  admonished,  in  the  name  of  our 
Lord  and  his  glorious  and  blessed  Mother,  to  be- 
think himself  and  declare  the  whole  truth. 

Answered,  that  in  June  or  July,  1783,  he  learn- 
ed that  Narcisso  Manalich,  Advocate,  with  some 
associates  were  about  to  visit  the  devil  in  search 
of  money  ;  which  information  he  had  communicat- 
ed to  the  Alcalde  of  this  town  ;  that  these  persons 
went  to  the  castle  of  Madremana,  where  the  devil 
appeared  to  them.  They  read  from  a  book,  and 
the  devil  asked  what  they  wanted.  The  one  who 
was  reading  (name  not  known)  answered,  '  Twen- 
tyfive  millions.'     The  devil  replied  they  must  give 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  191 

themselves  to  him.  They  signed  the  agreement, 
and  were  allowed  six  years  to  live.  They  then 
demanded  the  money  and  were  told  that  they 
must  bring  him  a  certain  stone  (piedra  de  espiritu). 
They  went  afterwards  to  the  castle  of  Esponella, 
read  the  book,  and  the  devil  came.  He  asked 
what  they  wanted.  They  answered,  the  money 
which  he  had  promised.  He  asked  for  the  stone, 
and  they  replied  that  some  one  had  stolen  it.  He 
then  exclaimed,  «  Fulfil  your  promise,  and  I  will 
fulfil  mine,'  and  disappeared.  AH  this  the  depo- 
nent learned  from  the  account  of  Manalich  and 
his  companions. 

Some  days  afterwards,  the  greater  part  of  the 
same  persons  were  assembled  at  the  house  of  Juan 
Traver  de  Ursall,  in  Barcelona,  where  the  depo- 
nent was  present  to  watch  their  proceedings,  by 
the  direction  of  the  Alcalde  of  Besahi.  He  was 
also  to  endeavour  to  get  possession  of  the  book, 
and  have  them  all  apprehended.  The  other  per- 
sons present  were  the  said  Manalich,  Juan  Fraver 
de  Ursall,  his  wife,  a  young  man  of  the  family, 
and  Monsieur  Josef.  It  was  resolved  in  the  meet- 
ing, to  choose  a  new  reader,  and  practise  further 
operations.  A  person  in  the  town  of  Junquera 
was  elected,  and  it  was  resolved  to  go  to  the  cas- 
tle of  Benda,  on  the  next  Tuesday.  The  depo- 
nent went  to  the  Alcalde  with  this  intelligence, 
and  he  despatched  a  party,  with  the  deponent,  to 
lie  in  wait  for  them  at  a  place  on  their  route,  but 
they  had  taken  the  alarm  and  avoided  the  de- 
ponent's company.     The  deponent  was  informed 


192  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

by  Tomas  Riera  that  he  had  gone  by  night  to 
Gerona,  to  get  some  nails  out  of  the  coffin  of  a 
child  of  three  or  four  years,  and  that  on  begin- 
ning to  dig,  there  appeared  to  him  many  visions. 
Manalich  told  the  deponent  that  he  believed  the 
devil  never  cheated  any  one,  but  performed  all  his 
promises.  The  abovementioned  Tomas  Riera  had 
slept  with  Monsieur  Josef,  and  he  was  accustomed 
to  hold  conversations  with  the  devil  in  his  own 
language  ;  and  the  persons  aforementioned  had  in- 
formed the  deponent  that  Monsieur  Josef  had  ob- 
tained money  of  the  devil. 

Questioned,  what  was  the  age,  personal  appear- 
ance, &c,  of  the  said  Narcisco  Manalich,  and  of 
all  the  others.     [Here  follows  the  description.'] 

The  above  is  the  truth  according  to  the  oath  of 
the  deponent,  &c. 

Juan  Ricart,  Porter  Royal 

Before  me — 

Lorenzo  Terrader,  Canon,  and  Presbyter 
Notary,  appointed  for  this  investigation. 


In  the  town  of  Besahi,  bishopric  of  Gerona,  on 
the  twentyfourth  day  of  February,  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eightyfour,  before  the  above- 
mentioned  officers  sworn  to  preserve  secrecy  and 
perform  well  our  duties,  appeared,  according  to 
summons,  and  made  oath  to  declare  the  truth 
and  preserve  secrecy,  Miguel  Berga,  advocate,  a 
native  of  this  town,  aged  thirtythree  years. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the  cause 
of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  1 93 

Answered,  that  he  supposed  it  to  be  on  account 
of  Mafialich's  affair. 

Questioned,  if  he  had  written  any  letter  or  com- 
munication to  the  Holy  Office  of  the  Inquisition, 
giving  an  account  of  any  crime  within  his  know- 
ledge ;  what  were  the  contents  of  that  paper  or 
communication,  and  by  whose  hand  was  it  written. 

Answered,  that  he  had  written  three  letters  to 
Dr  Ignacio  Sans  Pabordre,  at  Figueras ;  that  in 
the  first,  dated  July  fourteenth,  1783,  he  stated 
that  the  said  Manalich  had  told  him  he  had  gone 
twice  with  his  associates  to  the  castle  of  Esponel- 
la  after  money,  and  that  both  times  the  devil  had 
appeared  to  them ;  that  they  had  all  signed  a 
bargain  with  him,  and  were  promised  the  money 
when  they  returned  to  the  castle. 

The  second,  dated  August  fourth,  1783,  stated 
that  Manalich  had  declared  that  the  sixth  day  of 
that  month  was  fixed  upon  to  visit  the  castle  of 
Monroig,  in  search  of  money. 

The  third,  dated  the  thirteenth  of  the  same 
month,  informed  that  he  had  seen  Manalich,  but 
could  give  no  further  intelligence  respecting  the 
affair,  and  that  something  more  might  be  learned 
from  Juan  Ricart. 

The  deponent  went  on  to  declare  that  Josef 
Llonella  informed  him  that  he  and  the  said  Man- 
alich, accompanied  by  Jaime  Gubert,  a  young 
man  of  Besahi,  went  to  Montpelier  to  meet  a  Jew, 
in  order  to  learn  from  him  the  means  of  obtain- 
ing money  by  diabolical  art.  The  Jew  gave  them 
a  maggot  within  a  tube,  and  told  them  a  maggot 
25 


1 94  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

must  be  added  to  the  tube  every  day  to  be  eaten, 
and  that  if  they  swore,  which  they  did,  to  make  a 
league  with  the  devil,  and  perform  what  he  direct- 
ed them,  written  upon  a  paper,  they  should  have 
what  money  they  pleased.  They  signed  in  blood 
an  agreement  with  the  devil,  written  in  his  own 
characters,  and  promised  never  to  go  to  confes- 
sion. Notwithstanding  they  did  everything  ac- 
cording to  the  Jew's  directions,  they  got  nothing. 
The  deponent  continued  in  these  words ; — '  Some 
time  afterwards  I  called  upon  Manalich,  endeav- 
ouring to  bring  him  into  the  company  of  the  above- 
mentioned  Dr  Pabordre  Sans,  or  Dr  Revira,  Ca- 
non of  the  Cathedral  of  Gerona,  but  he  replied  to 
me  that  he  would  not  see  either  of  them  till  he 
got  the  money  ;  and  furthermore  informed  me  that 
they  and  the  devil  had  fixed  upon  the  sixteenth  of 
August  for  the  time  to  receive  the  treasure  ;  that 
the  devil  appeared  to  them  dressed  in  red,  and 
promised  if  one  of  their  number  were  given  up  to 
him,  they  should  have  thirtyone  millions ;  that 
Manalich  offered  himself,  and  the  devil  gave  him 
eight  years  to  live,  but  this  period  was  not  to  be- 
gin till  the  money  was  received.  I  exclaimed, 
"  The  devil  will  deceive  you.  "  He  answered  that 
the  devil's  promises  were  truer  than  the  Faith, 
and  further  told  me  that  to  raise  the  devil,  the 
following  things  were  necessary  ; — a  book  which 
directed  everything  that  was  to  be  said,  a  load- 
stone, a  piedra  de  espiritu,  six  nails  from  the  coffin 
of  a  child  of  three  years,  six  tapers  of  rosewax 
made  by  a  child  of  four  years,  the  skin  and  blood 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  195 

of  a  young  kid,  an  iron  fork  with  which  the  kid 
was  to  be  killed,  camphorated  high  proof  brandy, 
lignumvitse  charcoal  to  make  a  fire,  and  hazel 
rods.  Intelligence  of  all  this  I  gave  to  Sr  Dome- 
ro  Gerones,  the  Vicar  Boada,  and  the  Alcayde. 
The  Alcayde  sent  Juan  Ricart,  his  porter,  to  join 
them,  and  learn  the  day  fixed  upon  for  going,  after 
the  money,  in  order  that  he  might  take  them  pris- 
oners. This  Juan  Ricart  went  with  them  for 
some  days,  and  gave  notice  when  the  Jew  arrived 
who  was  to  read  the  book.  The  Alcayde  set  a 
watch  for  them,  which  was  discovered,  and  the 
Jew  escaped. 

'After  this,  I  endeavoured  again  to  bring  Maila- 
lich  into  company  with  Dr  Pabordre  Sans.  This 
I  effected,  but  found  that  Maiialich  would  not  de- 
clare the  truth  to  the  Doctor.  He  gave  me  to  un- 
derstand that  he  still  retained  the  book  and  instru- 
ments enumerated  above,  and  they  should  let  the 
business  lie  by  for  some  time,  without  speaking 
about  it,  and  then  renew  it  and  get  the  money  of 
the  devil.  Afterwards,  when  I  censured  his  con- 
duct, he  tried  to  make  me  believe  that  all  he  had 
told  me  was  a  fabrication,  but  I  have  always  be- 
lieved it  to  be  the  truth.' 

The  above  having  been  read  to  the  deponent,  is 
declared  by  him  to  be  correctly  recorded,  and  the 
truth  according  to  the  oath  sworn  by  him. 

Signed, 

Miguel  Antentas  y  Berga,  Advocate. 

Before  me — 

Lorenzo  Terrader,  Presbyter  and  Canon, 

Notary  in  this  investigation. 


196  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

In  the  town  of  Besahi,  on  the  the  thirtieth  day 
of  May,  one  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  eighty- 
four,  before  the  abovementioned  officers,  sworn 
to  preserve  secrecy  and  perform  faithfully  their 
duties,  appeared,  according  to  summons,  and 
made  oath  to  declare  the  truth  and  preserve  secre- 
cy, Josef  Gircos,  Advocate  of  Besahi,  a  native 
and  inhabitant  of  the  said  town,  of  age,  as  he 
stated,  thirtysix  years  or  thereabout. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the  cause 
of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  No. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  that  any  person  had 
said  or  done  aught  which  was,  or  appeared  to  be 
contrary  to  our  Holy  Catholic  Faith,  and  Evan- 
gelical Doctrine. 

Answered,  No. 

He  was  then  given  to  understand  that  informa- 
tion had  been  received  and  sworn  to  in  this  Holy 
Office,  that  certain  persons,  Narciso  Manalich 
and  Josef  Llorella,  had  been  at  Montpelier  to  visit 
a  Jew,  &c.  [Here  follows  a  recapitulation  of  the  pre- 
ceding testimony.'] 

Answered,  that  he  had  heard  the  same  from 
Narciso  Maiialich,  and  what  he  knew  of  the  mat- 
ter was  the  following  ; — 'About  eighteen  months 
since,  this  person  and  Josef  Llorella  y  Saler,  of 
this  town,  left  the  place,  accompanied  by  a  young 
man  named  Gubert.  To  what  place  they  went, 
and  whether  they  kept  company  all  the  way,  I  do 
not  know.  They  were  gone  about  three  weeks, 
and  shortly  after  their  return  I  heard  Miguel  An- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION  197 

tentas  y  Berga,  Advocate,  of  this  town,  declare 
that  they  had  been  to  Montpelier,  in  France,  to 
meet  a  Jew  who  was  to  show  them  how  to  obtain 
money  by  diabolical  arts ;  that  the  Jew  gave  Mafia- 
lich  a  maggot  in  a  tube,  to  which  he  was  to  add  a 
new  maggot  every  day  to  be  eaten,  and  that  the 
Jew  told  them  they  might  have  as  much  money  as 
they  wanted  by  swearing  a  pact  with  the  devil,  and 
doing  what  he  prescribed  to  them  upon  a  written 
paper.  One  of  the  conditions  was,  never  to  go  to 
confession.  For  these  instructions  I  think  the 
said  Antentas  told  me  they  paid  the  Jew  seven  or 
nine  Louis  tfors.  On  their  return  from  Montpe- 
lier, at  a  village  or  place  near  Bisbal,  they  made 
trial  of  one  of  the  Jew's  methods  of  obtaining 
money.  This  was  done  at  a  spot  where  two  roads 
crossed  each  other.  A  trench  was  dug  in  the  ground 
and  a  hen  killed,  with  the  blood  of  which  they  all 
wrote  their  names  on  a  paper  and  placed  the  same 
in  the  trench,  taking  care,  as  the  Jew  directed  them, 
not  to  be  frightened.  Notwithstanding  they  complied 
with  all  these  directions,  the  money  did  not  appear. 
'After  their  return  to  this  town,  they  went  with 
some  others  to  the  castle  of  Esponella,  where  the 
book  was  read  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  devil. 
Here  the  devil  appeared  in  the  shape  of  a  man 
dressed  in  flesh  colored  clothes,  and,  as  Antentas 
told  me,  with  large  eyes.  The  devil  asked  what 
they  wanted,  to  which  Manalich  or  some  other  re- 
plied, "Money,  good  money,  and  not  enchanted." 
The  devil  told  them  they  should  have  it  if  one  of 
the  number  would  give  himself  up,  but  this  no  one 
of  them  was  willing  to  do. 


198  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

'  Llorella  related  the  affair  to  his  wife,  and  she 
gave  information  of  it  to  Antonio  Rigalt,  that  he 
might  assist  in  extricating  her  husband  from  such 
a  desperate  business.  Rigalt  consulted  Antentas 
and  they  concluded  to  lay  the  case  before  the  In- 
quisition, which  was  done. 

'  What  Antentas  knew  of  the  affair  he  learnt  of 
Rigalt,  Llorella,  and  Manalich.  Afterwards,  when 
Llorella  repented  of  his  connexion  with  the  others, 
and  left  their  company,  I  think  I  heard  him  say,  at 
the  house  of  Antentas,  that  he  had  seen,  shortly 
before,  in  the  possession  of  Manalich,  the  paper 
which  the  Jew  gave  them,  and  that  the  devil  ap- 
peared to  them  in  a  flesh  colored  dress,  with  large 
eyes  and  sharp  finger  nails.  I  was  afterwards  told 
by  Antentas  that  Manalich,  seeing  Llorella  had 
left  them  and  they  could  not  proceed  with 
their  undertaking  according  to  the  direction  of 
the  Jew,  who  informed  them  that  if  one  of  the 
number  died  or  left  them  they  must  get  another, 
made  choice  of  an  uncle  of  Traver  beforemention- 
ed,  for  this  purpose. 

'Manalich  then  resolved  to  give  himself  up  to  the 
devil  according  to  his  demand,  stipulating  for 
some  years'  grace.  This  matter  was  discussed  by 
the  company  at  the  castle  of  Esponella,  in  con- 
nexion with  a  plan  for  getting  thirtyone  millions, 
or  some  such  sum,  from  the  devil.  The  plan,  how- 
ever, failed  in  this  manner.  On  the  night  of  Mon- 
day, before  St  John's  day,  in  1783,  the  company, 
or  part  of  them,  met  at  the  house  of  Traver,  but 
Manalich  being  suddenly  taken  sick,  could  not  ac- 
company them  to  the  castle. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  199 

'Antentas  also  informed  me,  that  he  told  Manalich 
that  the  devil  would  deceive  him,  and  that  he 
could  not  make  any  man  rich.  To  this  he  replied 
that  the  devil  fulfilled  all  his  promises,  and  that  if 
he  once  got  the  money  of  him,  he  would  go  to 
confession  nevertheless,  and  so  would  cheat  the 
devil.  He  also  told  me,  in  the  month  of  August 
of  the  same  year,  that  Manalich  had  resolved  to 
make  an  attempt  for  the  money  again,  at  the 
abovementioned  castle,  or  at  another,  called  the 
castle  of  Buadella ;  that  he  deferred  it  on  account 
of  the  affair  having  become  noised  abroad.  Since 
this  time  I  have  heard  nothing  of  him  or  his  un- 
dertakings, except  that  he  proposed  another  jour- 
ney to  Montpelier,  and  offered  two  hundred 
pounds  to  Simon  Escaellar  or  Ventura  to  accom- 
pany him.' 

The  above  is  the  truth,  according  to  the  oath 
of  the  deponent,  who  declares  that  he  has  not 
spoken  out  of  malice,  but  solely  in  obedience  to 
his  conscience,  and  having  been  read  to  him,  is 
declared  to  be  correctly  recorded. 

Signed — 

Josef  Gircos,  Advocate. 

Before  me — 

Lorenzo  Terrader  Presbyter, 
Notary  in  this  investigation. 


200  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Don  Leonardo  Vidal,  assistant  to  a  founder  of 
brass  cannon,  aged  twentythree  years,  a  native  of 
San  Estevan  de  Ripollet,  in  the  diocese  of  Bar- 
celona, and  residing  in  la  Rambla,  near  the  thea- 
tre, next  door  to  a  tallow  chandler's,  to  discharge 
his  conscience,  and  for  no  other  purpose,  gives 
the  following  information  to  the  Holy  Office. 

Antonio  Suarez,  the  keeper  of  a  coffee-house, 
opposite  the  Theatre  in  la  Rambla,  has  in  one  of 
his  rooms  six  or  eight  pictures,  rather  coarsely 
done,  two  of  which  contain  indecent  figures.  All 
of  these  the  informant  has  seen,  but  remembers 
only  one,  which  represents  a  young  man  taking 
hold  of  a  female  who  has  her  bosom  indecently 
exposed.  The  said  Antonio  is  about  fifty. years  of 
age,  lame  and  splayfooted,  with  one  arm  partly 
crippled  and  the  fingers  contracted. 

Also,  with  the  same  motive,  he  gives  informa- 
tion that  Dr  Manuel  Portius,  Presbyter,  a  public 
teacher  of  Latin  and  the  Humanities,  aged  thirty- 
eight  years,  of  a  low  stature,  and  with  a  somewhat 
long  nose,  living  in  the  Baxada  de  San  Miguel,  in 
the  third  story  of  a  house,  the  corner  of  which  is 
occupied  by  a  baker,  has  several  pictures,  colored 
and  uncolored,  among  which  are  some  represent- 
ing females  whose  bosoms  are  scandalously  ex- 
posed, and  others  with  improper  representations. 
One  of  these  has  this  title ;  <  L'Abbe  a  la  Toilette,' 
and  exhibits  with  other  figures,  a  priest  in  his  ca- 
lotte, very  nicely  dressed  in  the  clothes  of  a  lay- 
man, seated  at  the  side  of  a  lady,  with  whom  he 
appears  to  be  talking  about  dress.     All  these  pic- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  201 

tures  of  Dr  Manuel  Portius  are  handsomely  execut- 
ed, and  consequently  the  more  provocative  and 
scandalous.  They  are  hung  upon  the  walls  of  his 
cabinet  or  study,  in  view  of  every  one  who  enters, 
and  particularly  of  his  pupils,  the  number  of  whom, 
as  I  understand,  amounts  to  nearly  thirty. 

Furthermore,  he  gives  information  that  Don 
Felipe  Crame,  a  captain  in  the  royal  artillery, 
tall,  light  complexioned,  red  haired,  and  blind  of 
one  eye,  aged  thirtyfive  years,  being  in  conversa- 
tion with  the  informant  and  three  others,  whose 
names  will  be  hereafter  specified,  made  the  fol- 
lowing observation : — lA  Spanish  officer  whom  I  hold 
in  estimation,  has  said  that  it  ivas  not  the  will  of  God 
that  there  should  be  any  kings,  which  could  be  proved 
by  a  passage  from  scripture?  This  passage  he  quot- 
ed, which  was  not  to  the  purpose,  but  only,  as  I  re- 
member, stated  that  God  told  the  Israelites  that 
a  king  was  not  convenient  for  them.  The  name 
of  this  officer,  the  said  Don  Felipe  Crame  did  not 
mention,  and  nothing  else  respecting  him  is  known 
to  the  informant. 

The  persons  who  heard  these  observations  from 
the  mouth  of  the  said  Don  Felipe  Crame,  were 
Don  Manuel  Pe,  an  assistant  of  the  cannon  found- 
er, and  Don  Antonio  de  la  Torre,  clerk  of  the 
director  of  the  foundry.  There  are  also  others 
who  have  some  knowledge  of  the  same  ;  namely, 
Don  Manuel  Brito,  and  Don  Alexandro  Vicente, 
assistants  in  the  foundry. 

The  informant  undertook  to  make  an  accusation 
in  the  name  of  the  above  persons.     He  also  ap- 
26 


202  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

prized  the  said  Don  Felipe  Crame,  that  he  was 
under  an  obligation  to  denounce  his  friend,  and  as 
the  informant  knows  not  whether  this  has  been 
performed,  he  gives  the  present  information  in  or- 
der fully  to  discharge  his  conscience. 
Barcelona,  February  fourth,  1793. 

Leonardo  Vidal. 


TO  OUR  COMMISSARY,  THE  REVEREND  ANTONIO  FONT, 
PRESBYTER. 

We  herewith  transmit  you  a  letter,  received  by 
us,  from  Don  Leonardo  Vidal,  assistant  to  a  found- 
er of  cannon,  and  a  resident  in  this  city.  We 
hereby  commission  you  to  summon  him  to  appear 
before  you,  and  ascertain  according  to  form  wheth- 
er the  letter  be  his,  causing  him  to  specify  clearly 
every  circumstance  of  person,  place,  and  time,  re- 
lating thereto.  This  done  in  due  form,  and  before 
a  Presbyter  in  your  confidence  to  serve  as  Notary, 
you  will  forward  the  minutes  of  the  examination 
to  us  along  with  these  papers.  Our  Lord  preserve 
you  many  years. 

Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barcelona, 
February  seventh,  1793. 

Dr  Don  Pedro  Diaz  de  Valdes. 
The  Licentiate, 

Don  Manuel  de  Merra  y  Paniagua. 
Dr  Don  Joseph  Francisco  Gonzales  de  Noboa, 

Secretary. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  203 

TO    THE     REVEREND    CURATE    OF    THE    PARISH    OF    ST 
MARTIN  DE  PROVENSAL. 

Information  has  been  received  in  this  Holy  Of- 
fice, that  Antonio  Axis,  and  Josefa,  his  wife,  who 
perform  cures,  and  practise  various  superstitions, 
have  taken  up  their  abode  in  Clot,  in  the  dis- 
trict of  St  Martin  de  Provensal.  The  tribunal 
have,  in  consequence,  ordered  that  a  letter  be  de- 
spatched, ordering  you  to  make  investigations  re- 
specting these  facts,  and  also  respecting  the  life 
and  conduct  of  the  said  persons,  whether  they 
obey  the  precepts  of  the  church,  and  attend  at 
confession  and  communion.  Our  Lord  preserve 
you  many  years. 

Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barcelona, 
September  ninth,  1803. 

Dr  Don  Cyro  Valls  y  Geli,  Sec'y. 


ANSWER. 

In  obedience  to  the  orders  of  the  Holy  Tribunal 
of  the  Inquisition,  which  God  preserve  in  all  its 
strength,  dated  the  ninth  of  this  month,  I  have 
made  the  following  investigation.  I  summoned 
before  me  Joseph  Masvidal  of  this  village,  and 
made  him  swear  not  to  divulge  to  any  one  the 
questions  I  asked  him,  and  also  to  declare  to  me 
the  truth.  I  demanded  who  informed  him  that 
Antonio  Axis  could  cure  his  disorder.  He  an- 
swered, Felipe  Cadena  of  this  place,  and  Pablo 
Marine  of  the  Llano  de  Barcelona.  Felipe  Ca- 
dena stated  that  the  said  Antonio  had  cured  him 
by  cutting  oil'  the  crest  of  a  black  cock,  taking 


204  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

from  it  three  drops  of  blood,  mixing  it  with  water 
and  making  him  drink  it,  adding  that  if  a  priest 
were  in  the  house,  it  would  be  necessary  to  go  out 
of  doors  to  practise  the  operation. 

I  demanded  what  medicines  the  said  Antonio 
prescribed  him.  He  replied  that  the  first  was  a 
white  onion  and  five  plantain  leaves.  These  were 
cut  up  and  placed  upon  his  stomach,  which  reliev- 
ed his  pain,  a  symptom  which  the  wife  of  Antonio 
pronounced  good.  The  cure,  however,  not  being 
effected,  he  was  ordered  to  procure  a  partridge, 
twentyfive  needles,  and  a  new  pot,  all  of  them  to 
be  bought  and  carried  home  with  the  left  hand. 
The  needles  were  to  be  stuck  into  the  partridge 
with  great  fury,  and  the  whole  put  into  the  pot. 
Then  at  midnight  the  sick  man  was  to  set  it  on  the 
fire  with  the  left  hand,  and  with  the  left  hand  keep 
stirring  the  fire  till  two  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
He  informed  him  that  during  this,  the  tables  and 
plates  would  put  themselves  in  motion,  but  that  he 
must  not  be  frightened,  as  he  should  be  present 
himself.  All  these  directions  were  followed,  and 
there  were  also  present  at  the  time,  Francisco 
Vintro,  and  Francisco  Siralt,  his  brothers-in-law, 
to  keep  him  in  courage  during  the  operation.  At 
two  o'clock  he  took  it  off  the  fire,  but  found  him- 
self no  better.  Antonio's  wife,  Josefa,  directed 
broth  to  be  made  for  him,  he  being  as  thin  and 
spare  as  if  he  had  suffered  a  long  illness.  This 
was  done  the  next  morning,  when  he  found  him- 
self exceedingly  weak  and  fatigued.  A  similar 
case  occurred,  as  he  believes,  to  a  tavernkcepcr  in 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  205 

Barcelona,  which  is  known  to  the  Reverend  Fath- 
er F.  Juan  Mesados. 

His  health  not  improving  for  the  space  of  three 
months,  he  saw  Axis  again,  who  made  signs  of  the 
cross  upon  the  parts  of  his  body  where  he  felt  pain, 
but  this  had  no  more  effect  than  the  preceding  ex- 
periments. Axis  then  told  him  that  he  was  pos- 
sessed by  five  companies  and  five  captains  of  evil 
spirits,  that  the  companies  amounted  to  five  hun- 
dred in  number,  and  might  be  easily  cast  out,  but 
the  five  captains  were  not  so  easily  got  rid  of.  He 
proceeded  to  exorcise  them,  and  Masvidal  fell  to 
screaming  and  behaving  like  one  possessed.  The 
little  ones,  as  he  called  them,  being  despatched,  he 
went  to  work  upon  the  captains,  and  the  first 
night,  after  supper,  about  nine  o'clock,  he  began 
to  make  signs  of  the  cross,  and  talk  in  unintelligi- 
ble language.  He  then  gave  two  loud  screams, 
so  horrible  as  to  frighten  every  one  ;  and  Axis  af- 
firmed that  they  were  heard  in  the  farthest  regions 
of  the  air  by  the  other  spirits.  On  this  occasion, 
the  two  brothers-in-law,  beforementioned,  were 
present. 

Axis  declared  that  the  spirits  were  not  despatch- 
ed, and  he  exacted  a  promise  from  them  by  the 
mouth  of  the  patient,  that  they  would  depart  at 
nine  o'clock  the  next  morning;  but  continuing  to 
remain  at  that  time,  they  promised  anew  in  the 
same  manner,  to  depart  at  nine  that  night.  The 
patient  sent  for  Juan  Munseis,  Juan  Baxo,  and 
Antonio  Torras,  all  inhabitants  of  the  place.  At 
nine  o'clock,  the  performances  before  described, 


206  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

were  repeated,  the  patient  suffering  greatly,  crying 
out  and  talking,  as  people  do  when  bewitched. 
This  was  repeated  morning  and  night,  for  five  or 
six  days. 

All  this  producing  no  effect,  they  advised  him 
to  confess  the  whole  to  the  abovementioned  Rev- 
erend Father,  F.  Juan  Mesados  Servita.  This 
was  agreed  to,  and  Axis,  the  patient,  Munseis, 
Torras,  and  Baxo,  went  to  his  cell.  The  Rever- 
end Father  repeated  some  exorcisms,  and  Axis 
repeated  his  crossings  and  supplications.  He  af- 
terwards declared  he  had  seen  the  spirits,  and  de- 
scribed their  shapes. 

My  informant  also  stated  that  Axis  possessed 
the  power  to  restrain  the  tempests,  for  as  they 
were  returning  in  company  from  St  Cypria,  a  storm 
overtook  them,  and  he  was  in  great  terror.  Axis 
told  him  that  a  shower  of  stones  was  falling  at 
San  Cucufase  del  Valles,  but  that  he  need  not  fear, 
as  he  would  shelter  them  from  it,  by  means  of  a 
prayer  that  he  knew.  And  so  it  happened,  for  the 
shower  fell  as  they  learned  afterwards,  but  did  not 
touch  them,  although  they  were  forced  to  travel 
quite  to  the  seashore.  Furthermore,  Axis  declar- 
ed to  him  that  he  had  been  in  hell,  and  described 
to  him  the  condition  of  the  damned.  One  night 
some  evil  spirits  appeared  to  him,  and  offered  him 
money  if  he  would  give  himself  up  to  them,  but 
he  would  not  consent. 

I  likewise  summoned  to  appear  before  me,  Isi- 
dro  Lepu  of  this  place,  and  obliged  him  to  swear 
to  declare  the  whole  truth,  and  preserve  secrecy. 
I  demanded  whether  he  knew  Antonio  Axis,  and 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  207 

his  wife,  Josefa  Axis.  He  answered  that  he  did, 
inasmuch  as  they  lived  in  the  same  house  with  him, 
although  in  a  different  part.  I  asked  him  if  he 
knew  whether  the  said  Axis  performed  cures.  He 
replied  that  he  knew  of  his  performing  some,  and 
that  Axis  asked  him  to  go  in  company  with  him 
one  night,  adding  that  they  would  hear  a  loud 
noise,  but  he  must  not  be  frightened  being  in  his 
company,  as  they  would  be  out  of  danger ;  that 
they  must  go  at  midnight,  and  without  any  clothes. 
This  proposal  was  rejected.  Axis  replied  to  him, 
that  he  had  no  way  to  get  a  living,  but  my  inform- 
ant persisted  in  his  refusal. 

The  above  are  the  literal  declarations  which  I 
have  taken  under  oath  from  the  person  named. 
I  have,  moreover,  strong  suspicions  that  Axis  and 
his  wife  neglect  mass  on  many  occasions.  Axis 
himself  during  his  residence  this  year  in  my  parish, 
has  not  confessed,  nor  taken  the  Pascal  commu- 
nion, although  this  has  been  done  in  the  house 
where  he  lives,  and  I  have  entreated  him  and  his 
wife  to  comply  with  the  observance.  Besides  what 
is  related  above,  he  has  attempted  many  other  su- 
perstitious cures  upon  people  belonging  to  Barce- 
lona and  strangers  ;  all  which  I  certify  to  be  the 
exact  truth. 

Dr  Francisco  Guiu,  Parochial  Curate. 

St  Martin  de  Provensals,  October  second,  1803. 

*         *         * 

MOST  ILLUSTRIOUS  SEnORES, 

The  supernumerary  Inquisitor  Fiscal  declares 
that  a  commission  should  be  granted  for  the  pur- 
pose of  examining  this  letter,  and  also  to  examine 


208  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

and  ratify  the  depositions  of  the  delator  and  the 
witnesses,  which  is  submitted  to  the  opinion  of 
your  Excellencies. 

The  Licentiate,  Basarrate. 

Secret  Chamber,  October  tenth,  1803. 


MOST    ILLUSTRIOUS   SIR, 

In  obedience  to  the  dictates  of  my  conscience 
and  the  counsel  of  my  confessor,  Padre  Gervasio 
Minguella,  Carmelite  Calzado,  I  inform  your  Ex- 
cellency of  the  following  act  which  I  have  com- 
mitted. Upon  three  several  times,  at  the  solicita- 
tion of  one  of  my  companions,  I  went  to  visit  a 
woman  for  the  purpose  of  learning,  by  a  divination 
with  cards,  whether  a  certain  young  man,  to  whom 
I  am  betrothed,  would  return  hither  from  Olot, 
where  he  now  is.  The  above  woman,  having  con- 
sulted the  cards,  answered  that  he  would  return  ; 
but  that  it  would  be  sometime  first.  Other  things 
she  also  informed  me  by  divination.  The  woman's 
true  name  I  do  not  know,  but  she  is  called  Pepa 
dels  Gossos,  and  lives  in  the  Calle  dels  Tallers.  I 
entreat  that  your  Excellency  will  pardon  this 
weakness  of  mine,  for  I  was  not  aware  that  I  was 
committing  an  offence.  My  confessor  informs  me 
of  the  fact  that  I  have  been  guilty,  and  that  1 
must,  within  six  days,  give  notice  of  the  same  to 
your  Excellency. 

God  preserve  your  Excellency  many  years. 

I  kiss  the  hands  of  your  Excellency. 

Your  servant,  Antonia  Puxant, 

daughter  of  Jaime  Puxant,  Calle  del  Horn. 

Barcelona,  February  third,  1805. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  209 

TO    PADRE    GERVASIO    MINGUELLA,    CARMELITE 
CALZADO. 

We  herewith  transmit  you  orders  to  proceed  in 
company  with  another  person  of  sacerdotal  char- 
acter to  officiate  as  Notary,  having  first  sworn 
fidelity  and  secrecy,  and  summon  before  you,  An- 
tonia  Puxant,  daughter  of  Jaime  Puxant,  living  in 
the  Calle  del  Horn.  You  will  ascertain  from  her, 
upon  oath,  whether  the  subjoined  letter  be  hers, 
whether  she  affirms  the  contents  to  be  true,  and 
whether  there  be  any  part  of  the  same  to  alter,  or 
any  addition  to  make.  Within  four  days  of  this, 
you  will  ratify  the  above  depositions  before  the 
Notary,  and  other  trustworthy  persons,  and  if  any 
testimony  which  may  corroborate  the  same  should 
offer,  you  will  receive  it,  and  ratify  the  said  testi- 
mony at  the  end  of  four  days  in  like  manner.  In- 
formation respecting  the  character  and  credit  of 
the  witnesses,  you  will  transmit,  written  in  the 
margin  of  the  depositions.  Also  in  a  separate  paper 
you  will  forward  an  account  of  the  character  and 
christian  conduct  of  the  person  denounced.  This 
order  is  to  be  returned  to  our  hands  with  all  the 
other  papers.  Our  Lord  preserve  you  many  years. 
Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barcelona, 
February  thirteenth,  1805. 

Dr  Don  Joseph  de  Llozer. 
Licentiate,  Don  Manuel  de  Merra  y  Paniagua. 

Dr  Don  Juan  de  Rodas. 

D.  D.  Juaquin  Moner,  Secretary. 


27 


210  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

MOST  ILLUSTRIOUS  SE110RES, 

I  return  your  Excellencies  the  order  of  the  date 
of  February  thirteenth,  of  the  present  year,  along 
with  the  deposition  of  Antonia  Puxant,  native  of 
Ripoll,  in  the  bishopric  of  Vique,  daughter  of 
Jaime  Puxant,  resident  in  the  Calle  del  Horn,  of 
this  city.  With  this  you  will  also  receive  the  de- 
positions of  six  other  witnesses  to  the  same  facts, 
which  I  have  taken  by  the  information  of  the  above- 
mentioned  Antonia.  The  tardiness  with  which 
this  business  has  been  accomplished,  will  be  over- 
looked by  your  Excellencies,  on  reflecting  upon 
the  extent  of  my  occupations,  and  on  the  fact  that 
the  people  from  whom  the  depositions  were  taken, 
are  of  the  laboring  class,  seldom  at  their  houses, 
and  of  consequence  difficult  to  find.  The  last 
named  among  them  was  not  met  with  till  the 
twentyseventh  of  March. 

With  regard  to  the  declarations  of  Antonia  Pux- 
ant, I  have  to  state  that  both  in  her  deposition, 
and  in  the  ratification,  she  appears  to  have  dis- 
closed the  truth  with  perfect  ingenuousness,  as  far 
as  her  knowledge  extended  and  the  interroga- 
tives  went,  although  a  mistake  was  made  in  the 
name  of  the  street,  in  which  Pepa  de  los  Gosos 
performed  her  divinations,  which  she  affirmed  was 
the  Calle  de  Nazaret;  but  on  being  reminded  of 
the  error,  she  informed  me,  after  the  ratification, 
that  it  was  the  Calle  de  Farlandina  which  is  situ- 
ated at  the  head  of  the  street  leading  from  the 
convent  of  Nuestra  Senora  de  los  Angeles,  to  the 
Casa  de  Charidad  of  this  city. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  21 1 

Respecting  the  persons  denounced  by  the  said 
Antonia  Puxant,  both  in  the  deposition  and  ratifi- 
cation, I  have  summoned  only  those  who,  as  I  un- 
derstood from  her,  were  present  when  the  afore- 
mentioned Pepa  de  los  Gosos  performed  her  divi- 
nations before  the  said  Antonia.  As  to  the  other 
persons  and  matters,  referred  to  by  her,  1  have  in- 
stituted no  proceedings  respecting  them,  deeming 
an  additional  order  from  your  Excellencies  neces- 
sary to  this  step. 

I  have  also  to  inform  your  Excellencies  that  the 
said  Antonia  Puxant  is  very  anxious  that  her  fath- 
er, Jaime  Puxant,  may  know  nothing  of  her  de- 
clarations, and  in  particular,  that  in  the  ratifica- 
tion, respecting  Margarida  Puxant,  inasmuch  as 
this  woman  is  married  to  the  brother  of  the  above 
Jaime  Puxant.  She  states  further,  that  she  heard 
sometime  since  that  the  above  Margarida,  her 
aunt,  had  been  summoned  before  our  Holy  Tribu- 
nal for  witchcraft  and  superstition  ;  whether  at  the 
instance  of  her  father  or  relations,  or  other  persons, 
does  not  appear,  and  for  this  reason  or  some  oth- 
er, a  discord  had  arisen  between  them. 

With  respect  to  the  character  and  occupation 
of  the  denounced  Pepa  de  los  Gosos  and  the  fact 
whether  she  observes  the  precepts  of  the  church, 
I  cannot  transmit  you  any  information,  as  I  do  not 
know  the  person,  and  have  not  yet  been  able  to 
find  her ;  but  according  to  all  that  can  be  learned 
from  the  witnesses,  she  is  undoubtedly  guilty. 
They  inform  me  she  is  very  cautious  in  conceal- 
ing herself. 


212  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION 

In  relation  to  the  other  witnesses,  I  have  to  re- 
mark the  following.  As  to  Gertrudis  Poc  y  Mar- 
ti, mentioned  in  the  deposition  of  Antonia  Puxant, 
it  appears  to  me  that  he  has  concealed  the  truth 
in  his  declaration,  from  fear  or  some  other  motive  ; 
which  opinion  is  confirmed  by  his  having  delayed 
the  ratification  beyond  the  specified  time,  so  that 
it  was  found  necessary  to  summon  him  anew.  He 
appears,  however,  after  he  had  been  charged  to 
declare  the  truth  on  the  eighth  of  March,  when 
the  ratification  took  place,  to  have  made  a  full  and 
ingenuous  declaration,  which  corresponds  with  the 
statements  of  the  above  Antonia  Puxant. 

As  to  the  deposition  of  Rosa  Llobet,  it  appears 
to  be  true,  although  nothing  to  the  purpose.  This 
person  was  summoned  as  she  was  supposed  to  be 
the  lady  of  the  house  where  the  divinations  were 
performed,  from  the  description  of  Antonia ;  but 
I  found,  upon  examining  her,  that  she  was  not. 
Still  some  information  was  obtained  by  her  means, 
she  having  informed  me  that  a  house  near  the  one 
abovementioned,  on  the  left  hand,  is  a  great  resort 
for  young  females  for  some  unknown  purpose.  In 
consequence,  I  have  summoned  the  occupant, 
Francisca  Jacoba,  whom  I  shall  hereafter  refer  to. 

Respecting  Madalena  Masllorens,  I  believe  that 
she  has  declared  sincerely  the  whole  truth.  It  is 
to  be  observed  that  this  person  is  not  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  house  in  the  Calle  de  Farlandina  in 
which  Pepa  de  los  Gosos  practised  her  arts,  as  was 
thought  by  Antonia  Puxant. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION  213 

With  relation  to  Francisca  Jacoba,  who  occu- 
pies the  first  floor  of  the  first  house  in  la  Riera 
Alta,  on  the  left  hand  as  you  go  from  the  Convent 
of  the  Capuchins,  she  confesses  that  the  said 
Pepa  de  los  Gosos  has  visited  her  house  upon  busi- 
ness, as  many  other  persons  have  done,  but  af- 
firms that  she  never  practised  there,  any  perform- 
ance or  divination  with  cards ;  yet  from  her  man- 
ner of  answering  the  interrogatories,  and  her 
warmth  in  defending  the  said  Pepa,  talking  at 
great  length  in  her  favor,  and  declaring  she  had 
been  accused  falsely,  1  have  no  doubt  she  is  a 
friend  of  hers,  and,  therefore,  that  her  testimony 
is  very  suspicious.  In  this,  however,  I  may  be  mis- 
taken. 

With  respect  to  Maria  Tintorer,  who  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  house  in  the  Calle  de  Farlandina 
where  the  divinations  above  referred  to  were  per- 
formed, I  think  she  has  spoken  the  truth,  and  that 
her  whole  testimony  may  be  credited.  As  to  the 
Gipsey  of  the  Calle  de  St  Pablo,  Seiior  Augustin 
Fuster,  and  the  other  females,  I  have  not  sum- 
moned them,  waiting  for  an  order  from  your  Ex- 
cellencies to  this  effect. 

With  regard  to  Antonia  Ragas,  I  think  her  tes- 
timony may  be  admitted,  as  it  corroborates  that 
of  Antonia  Puxant  in  some  points.  Respecting 
the  other  witness,  mentioned  by  Antonia,  named 
Margarida,  I  have  not  been  able  to  take  her  dep- 
osition, as  she  has  been  long  confined  by  sickness, 
in  the  hospital  in  this  city. 


214  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 


The  above,  Most  Illustrious  Sefiores,  are  the 
depositions  which  I  have  taken,  and  the  judg- 
ments I  have  formed  respecting  them.  I  trust 
you  will  pardon  the  faults  which  I  have  commit- 
ted therein,  and  rectify  my  errors. 

I  remain  your  Excellencies'  most  humble  ser- 
vant, and  kiss  the  hands  of  your  Excellencies. 

Fr.  Gervasio  Minguella,  Carmelite  Calzado. 


In  the  city  of  Barcelona,  on  the  twentieth  day 
of  February,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  five, 
before  the  Reverend  Father  Fr.  Gervasio  Min- 
guella, Carmelite  Calzado,  Presbyter  and  Commis- 
sary appointed  for  this  investigation,  and  me,  Fr. 
Joseph  Abella,  Presbyter  Carmelite  Calzado,  No- 
tary, having  sworn  to  preserve  secrecy  and  per- 
form faithfully  our  duties,  appeared,  according  to 
summons,  and  made  oath  to  declare  the  truth  and 
preserve  secrecy,  Antonia  Puxant,  a  native  of  Ri- 
poll,  in  the  bishopric  of  Vique,  daughter  of  Jaime 
Puxant,  of  this  city,  aged  seventeen  years. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  or  conjectured  the 
cause  of  her  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  she  supposed  it  to  be  on  ac- 
count of  a  letter  which  she  had  caused  to  be  writ- 
ten in  her  name,  to  the  Holy  Tribunal,  on  the  third 
day  of  the  present  month. 

Questioned,  at  what  time  and  place,  and  in 
the  presence  of  what  persons  were  the  operations 
with  the  cards  performed  ;  also,  with  what  words 
and  gestures,  and  whether  the  performer  received 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  215 

any  rebukes  for  her  actions,  or  appeared  to  be 
of  sound  mind. 

Answered,  that  about  six  months  ago,  at  the 
request  of  the  deponent,  she  performed  the  ope- 
ration three  several  times  in  the  space  of  three  or 
four  weeks  at  different  places ;  that  is  to  say, 
the  first  time  in  the  Calle  de  la  Riera  Alta,  at  the 
other  times  in  the  Calle  de  Nazaret.  The  houses 
she  did  not  know.  In  the  Calle  de  Nazaret  the 
entrance  was  by  a  small  door  in  the  lower  story 
near  a  garden.  The  places  she  could  recognise 
on  seeing.  The  person  who  performed  the  ope- 
ration was  always  unwilling  to  do  it  at  her  own 
house.  Those  present  on  the  first  occasion  were 
four  in  number ;  the  deponent,  the  operator,  one 
of  her  friends  called  Gertrudis,  and  sometimes 
Jesus,  because  she  lives  in  the  Calle  de  Jesus. 
She  was  a  married  woman.  The  fourth  was,  as 
the  deponent  imagined,  the  lady  of  the  house. 
On  the  second  occasion  there  were  present  the 
two  first  persons  before  mentioned,  a  young  wo- 
man named  Antonia  Ragosa,  living  in  the  Calle 
del  Conde  del  Asalto,  a  native  of  Ripoll,  and  the 
lady  of  the  house  called  Helena  or  Magdalena. 
On  the  third  occasion  there  were  present  the  two 
first  persons,  and  another  called  Puntina,  the 
widow  of  a  weaver.  The  operations  were  per- 
formed with  singular  actions  and  unintelligible 
language.  All  that  the  deponent  could  understand 
was  the  word  '  Barrabast.'     Nobody  rebuked  the 


216  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

performer,  and  she  practised  the  whole  seriously, 
and  in  her  right  mind. 

Questioned,  what  things  she  divined. 

Answered,  that  she  told  her  what  money  she  had 
in  her  pocket ;  what  she  was  thinking  about ;  that 
her  father  wanted  her  to  marry  a  young  man 
whom  she  disliked,  and  that  on  this  account  her 
father  was  displeased  with  her.  Sometimes  she 
made  wrong  statements,  but  this  the  deponent 
thinks  was  done  designedly,  and  in  order  that  she 
might  not  be  discovered.  She  also  told  the  de- 
ponent that  the  young  man  of  Olot,  to  whom  she 
was  betrothed,  and  whose  name  was  Gaspar  Giralt, 
would  write  to  her  within  three  weeks,  and  that 
he  would  visit  this  city,  adding  other  information. 
The  operator  always  chose  Friday  for  her  per- 
formances, and  the  deponent  paid  her  two  reals 
vellon. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  that  any  other  persons 
had  said  or  done  anything  which  came  under  the 
cognisance  of  the  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  that  she  had  heard  of  four  other  per- 
sons who  performed  divinations.  One  was  named 
Fargas,  and  lived  in  a  lane  near  St  Paul's  Church. 
Another  was  named  Teresica,  and  appeared  to  be 
a  married  woman.  She  lived  in  the  same  street. 
Another  was  called  Garvi.  Her  residence  unknown. 
The  last  was  called  Teresa,  and  sometimes  Balla- 
renga,  a  married  woman,  and  formerly  living  in 
the  Calle  de  la  Parra.  The  deponent  was  told  by 
a  young  woman  named  Felipe,  that  on  the  second 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  217 

of  this  month  she  passed  the  night  with  the  said 
Ballarenga,  where  they  burnt  a  rosary  and  a  two 
real  piece  along  with  some  holy  water.  On  the  fol- 
lowing morning  the  said  Felipe  showed  the  depo- 
nent some  black  powder  which  she  stated  to  be 
the  ashes  of  the  rosary  and  money,  and  said  it 
was  a  potent  love  powder.  The  deponent  was 
also  informed  by  a  young  woman  named  Ursula, 
who  lives  in  la  Riera  alta,  that  a  person  living  in 
Barceloneta  carried  on  the  same  practices. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  anything  more. 

Answered,  that  a  young  woman  named  Teresa, 
living  in  the  Calle  del  Conde  del  Asalto,  told  her 
that  a  certain  man  declared  to  her  mother,  that 
he  knew  a  woman  who  would  carry  her  to  Olot 
in  an  hour's  time,  upon  the  condition  that  she 
should  not  invoke  any  Saint. 

Questioned,  what  was  the  age  and  personal  ap- 
pearance of  the  abovementioned  Pepa  de  los  Gosos. 

Answered,  that  she  was  a  little  old  woman  with 
sunken  eyes  and  a  wrinkled  face. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  anything  more. 

Answered,  that  a  woman  named  Serafina  Xuera, 
wife  of  Senor  Miguel  in  the  Calle  de  St  Olegario, 
had  told  her  there  was  a  woman  in  her  house  who 
performed  divinations. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  anything  more. 

Answered,  No. 

The  above  having  been  read  to  the  deponent, 
is  declared  by  her  to  be  correctly  recorded.  She 
further  states  that  she  has  not  made  these  declar- 
ations out  of  malice,  but  solely  in  obedience  to 
28 


218  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

her  conscience.  Secrecy  was  enjoined  upon  her, 
which  she  promised,  and  not  being  able  to  write, 
I,  the  said  Commissary,  sign  in  her  name. 

Fr.  Gervasio  Minguella, 

Carmelite  Commissary. 
Antonio  Puixant. 
Before  me — 
Fr.  Joseph  Abella,  Carmelite  Calzado,  Notary. 


In  the  suburb  of  Barceloneta,  on  the  thirtieth 
day  of  October,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
six,  before  the  Rev.  Juan  Pedrals,  Presbyter  and 
Commissary,  and  me  Ignacio  Ribes,  Presbyter 
Notary,  sworn  to  preserve  secrecy,  and  perform 
faithfully  our  duties,  appeared,  according  to  sum- 
mons, and  made  oath  to  declare  the  truth  and  pre- 
serve secrecy,  Manuel  Baxo,  a  native  of  the 
town  of  Blancas,  in  the  bishopric  of  Gerona,  aged 
sixtyfour  years,  and  dwelling  in  Barceloneta,  in 
the  Calle  del  Sementerio. 

Questioned,   why  he  had  demanded  audience. 

Answered,  to  give  the  following  information  to 
the  Holy  Office.  Within  about  three  years  he  had 
observed  that  his  wife,  named  Cecilia  Pruna,  and 
vulgarly  la  Cileta,  had,  on  many  occasions,  in  his 
house,  performed  such  practices  as  these.  About 
ten  or  twelve  o'clock  at  night,  she  took  a  sheep's 
liver  and  put  it  in  an  earthen  pot  with  a  small 
quantity  of  water.  This  she  boiled  over  the  fire  and 
kept  piercing  it  with  a  nail  set  in  the  end  of  a  stick, 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  219 

which  he  observing,  she  hid  the  stick  and  made 
use  of  a  knife  for  this  purpose.  She  practised  di- 
vinations with  cards  to  ascertain  whether  any  per- 
son would  be  rich  or  poor,  married  or  single,  or 
whether  any  one  arriving  from  America  brought 
money  or  not.  There  was  a  ship  which  ran  out  to 
sea  in  the  night,  with  the  Collector  of  the  Customs 
and  some  of  his  officers  on  board,  and  while  the 
whole  city  was  in  suspense  as  to  their  fate,  not 
knowing  whither  the  ship  had  gone,  she  informed 
the  second  officer  of  the  marine  that  he  might  be 
under  no  apprehensions,  for  they  had  arrived  at 
Naples,  without  any  injury,  which  in  fact  turned 
out  to  be  the  case.  Furthermore,  she  used  to 
gather  dead  men's  bones  out  of  the  graveyard, 
and  burn  them  to  powder,  but  what  she  did  with 
this  powder  he  did  not  know.  She  also  made  use 
of  certain  grains  which  she  obtained  at  the  Con- 
vent of  Jesus,  and  observed  that  in  order  to  be 
efficacious  they  should  be  gathered  at  the  time 
when  our  Lord  was  in  his  tomb,  and  not  suffered 
to  touch  the  ground.  These  practices  his  wife  had 
learned  from  a  sailor  of  St  Felio  Guixots,  named 
Pedro  Torrent,  according  to  what  she  had  stated 
to  a  woman  residing  in  the  house.  The  deponent 
had  made  many  exertions  to  persuade  his  wife 
to  comply  with  the  precept  of  the  church,  and 
attend  mass,  but  she  refused. 

Questioned,  what  persons  were  present  when 
these  superstitious  and  necromantic  deeds  were 
done,  what  persons  took  part  in  them,  what  instru- 


220  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

ments  were  used,  what  words  spoken,  what  cere- 
monies performed,  and  whether  the  whole  was 
done  seriously  or  in  a  jesting  manner ;  whether  she 
was  rebuked  by  any  one,  and  by  whom  ;  whether, 
after  being  rebuked,  she  continued  the  practices, 
and  whether  she  was  in  her  right  mind. 

Answered,  that  various  persons  were  present 
on  the  above  occasion,  but  their  names  and  resi- 
dences were  unknown  to  him.  Many  persons  like- 
wise unknown  had  participated  in  the  operations. 
As  to  the  instruments  used,  they  had  been  already 
described,  as  well  as  the  manner  and  ceremonies  ; 
that  it  was  not  done  in  jest,  and  she  was  in  her 
right  mind ;  and  finally,  that  he  had  often  reproved 
her  without  effect. 

Questioned,  what  was  the  age,  personal  appear- 
ance, and  residence  of  the  person  in  question. 

Answered,  that  she  was  about  sixty  years  of 
age,  tall,  of  a  swarthy  complexion,  and  lived  in 
his  house. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  that  any  other  person 
had  said  or  done  aught  contrary  to  our  Holy 
Catholic  Faith,  or  against  the  proceedings  of  the 
Holy  Office. 

Answered,  No. 

The  above  being  read  to  the  deponent,  he  de- 
clared it  to  be  correctly  recorded,  and  that  he 
had  nothing  to  add  or  alter  in  relation  to  it ;  that 
it  was  the  truth,  and  not  uttered  by  him  out  of 
malice  or  ill  will  against  his  wife,  but  solely  in 
obedience  to  his  conscience.     Secrecy  was  en- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  221 

joined,  which  he   promised,  and  added  his  signa- 
ture. Manuel  Baxo. 
Juan  Pedrols,  Commissary. 
Before  me —                  Ignacio  Ribes,  Notary. 


To  the  reverend  Vicar  of  Santa  Maria  de  los 
Reyes  to  whom  is  intrusted  the  district  of  the  Cal- 
le  del  Santo  Hospital,  Barcelona. 

It  is  desired  in  this  Tribunal  of  the  Holy  Office, 
to  learn  the  conduct  in  a  religious,  moral,  and  po- 
litical relation,  of  Dr  Don  Josef  Baldrich,  advocate 
of  the  Royal  Audience,  and  a  resident  in  the  Calle 
de  Jerusalem,  at  the  corner  opposite  the  church  of 
St  Augustin,  in  this  city.  To  know  whether  he 
observes  the  regulations  of  our  Holy  Mother 
Church,  and  his  genera]  character  in  religion  and 
politics.  For  this  purpose  the  Tribunal  have  di- 
rected that  instructions  be  sent  you  to  make  all 
possible  exertions  to  this  end,  both  in  the  discharge 
of  your  ordinary  functions,  and  by  cautious  and 
secret  inquiries  from  persons  of  good  credit,  not 
omitting  anything  in  these  researches  which  may 
discover  his  most  secret  thoughts  upon  the  matters 
above  specified. 

The  above  instructions  I  communicate  to  you 
by  order  of  the  Tribunal.  God  preserve  you 
many  years. 

Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barcelona, 
October  thirtieth,  1818. 

Don  Jose  Aymar  y  Soler,  Sec'y. 


222  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

ANSWER    TO    THE    ABOVE. 

To  Don  Josef  Aymar  y  Soler,  Sec'y. 

Sir, 

Dr  Don  Josef  Baldrich  conforms  punctually 
to  the  precepts  of  the  church,  and  regularly  pre- 
sents me  his  certificate  to  this  effect.  I  have  al- 
so ascertained  by  inquiries,  that  his  character  is 
good  in  a  political  view,  and  that  he  is  a  well  in- 
formed and  industrious  person.  I  can  furthermore 
state  that  I  have  never  had  any  complaint  against 
him,  all  which  intelligence  I  transmit  in  discharge 
of  the  duty  imposed  on  me.  God  preserve  you 
many  years. 

Barcelona,  November  seventh,  1818. 
Cloy  Tuberi,  Presbyter  and  Vicar  del  Pino. 


To  the  Reverend  Cura  Parroco  of  Canellas. 

This  Tribunal  of  the  Holy  Office,  desire  to 
know  the  religious,  moral,  and  political  behaviour 
of  the  Baron  de  Canellas;  whether  he  follows  the 
precepts  respecting  Easter,  and  the  other  regula- 
tions of  our  Holy  Mother  Church  ;  and,  having 
learnt  that  he  has  taken  up  his  residence  in  your 
town,  the  Tribunal  have  ordered  that  you  receive 
instruction  to  make  all  possible  researches  for  this 
purpose,  both  in  the  performance  of  your  ordina- 
ry duties  and  by  making  inquiries  through  the  in- 
strumentality of  trustworthy  persons,  with  all 
proper  caution  and  secrecy  ;  the  satisfactory  per- 
formance of  which,  the  Tribunal  expect  from  your 
prudence  and  zeal. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  223 

These  instructions  I  transmit  by  order  of  the 
Tribunal.     God  preserve  you  many  years. 

Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barcelona, 
November  fourth,  1819. 

Don  Jose  Aymar  y  Soler,  Sec'y. 


ANSWER. 

To  Don  Josef  Aymar  y  Soler,  Secretary  of  the 
Holy  Office  of  Barcelona. 

In  compliance  with  the  order  of  the  Tribunal  of 
the  Holy  Office,  I  am  enabled  to  state  that  the 
Baron  de  Canellas  has  resided  in  this  place  ever 
since  the  beginning  of  1815,  except  being  occa- 
sionally absent  on  account  of  the  season  or  his 
health,  as  at  the  present  time ;  he  is  now  at 
Manlleu  where  he  has  resided  since  the  first  of 
August  of  the  present  year,  with  the  intention  of 
passing  the  hot  months  there.  It  has  not  been  as- 
certained when  he  means  to  return,  but  I  believe 
he  has  determined  to  do  this  next  January. 

As  to  his  moral  and  religious  conduct,  he  com- 
monly hears  mass  once  or  twice  a  day,  says  his 
prayers  very  devoutly,  and  enjoins  the  same  upon 
all  his  family  ;  but  when  his  mental  irregularities  oc- 
cur, which  have  happened  three  or  four  times 
within  six  years,  he  is  highly  phrenetical,  and  will 
utter  blasphemies  like  a  heretic,  as  I  have  been 
informed,  although  such  a  thing  has  never  hap- 
pened in  my  presence  or  that  of  my  vicar.  Even 
in  these  fits  of  delirium,  however,  he  manifests  to- 
wards us  some  respect  and  fear.  His  last  attack, 
according  to  what  I  have  been  able  to  learn,  en- 


224  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

dured  from  January  till  the  end  of  April  of  the 
present  year,  during  which  he  conducted  in  a 
most  inexplicable  manner,  behaving  at  times  very 
regularly,  and  at  others  like  a  madman.  During 
all  this  period  I  believe  he  never  failed  to  attend 
mass  at  the  stated  time,  although  he  declared  that 
he  was  no  better  than  a  dog,  that  he  possessed 
neither  faith,  hope,  nor  charity,  that  everything 
was  a  dream  to  him,  and  that  he  had  no  belief  in 
the  divine  mysteries. 

Sometimes  he  would  fall  to  raving,  and  declare 
that  he  had  all  hell  within  him,  on  which  occa- 
sions he  would  utter  the  most  horrid  blasphemies. 
Finally  at  the  end  of  the  period  abovementioned 
he  grew  tranquil,  and  I  directed  him  to  observe  the 
ordinances  relating  to  Easter,  threatening  him,  in 
case  of  refusal,  with  a  denunciation  to  my  prelate. 
All  the  threats  and  exhortations  I  could  use  were 
fruitless  for  some  time.  At  length,  learning  that 
the  Missionary  Fathers  from  Villanueva  were  to 
take  this  parish  in  their  way  in  the  course  of  their 
labors,  he  sent  me  a  message,  desiring  me  to  grant 
him  a  forbearance  for  a  few  days,  as  he  was  in 
readiness  to  perform  his  duties  to  the  mission. 
Notwithstanding,  however,  the  assurances  I  had 
received  from  the  Missionary  Fathers,  they  did  not 
visit  us,  and  the  Baron  remained  without  confes- 
sion, in  which  state  he  left  this  place  for  that  in 
which  he  now  resides. 

In  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
eighteen  he  also  omitted  the  above  duty  in  this 
place,  and  passed  the  Lent  at  the  college,  in  the 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  225 

capital,  where  he  confessed,  and  took  the  sacra- 
ment, as  appears  from  a  regular  certificate  which 
he  showed  me.  When  in  good  humor,  which  hap- 
pens the  greater  part  of  the  time,  he  exhibits  out- 
wardly, great  piety  and  zeal,  taking  much  care 
that  his  religious  worship  is  accompanied  with 
every  mark  of  respect,  and  paying  the  regular 
sums  for  the  support  of  my  church.  He  is  also 
very  charitable,  in  which  point,  indeed,  I  can  bear 
witness  that  he  follows  his  natural  inclination. 

Father  N.  de  Barbara,  lecturer  in  philosophy, 
of  the  Franciscan  Convent,  at  Villafranca,  preach- 
ed in  this  place  during  the  last  Lent,  and  had  ma- 
ny disputes  with  the  Baron  while  he  was  in  the 
height  of  his  extravagances.  In  the  course,  of 
these  the  Baron  uttered  some  assertions  which, 
had  they  proceeded  from  a  person  of  sound  mind, 
would  have  been  reported  to  the  Holy  Tribunal, 
but  in  his  condition  it  was  judged  best  to  consider 
him  as  a  madman. 

In  fact,  I  am  convinced  that  with  occasional 
seasons  of  intermission,  he  is  not  to  be  looked  up- 
on as  a  sane  person ;  and  finally  with  all  his  sin- 
gular piety  and  devotedness  to  the  cause  of  the 
church,  charity  to  the  poor,  and  apostolic  zeal  in 
speaking  against  the  vices  of  these  miserable  days, 
I  perceive  in  him  a  great  fund  of  excessive  vanity 
and  pride. 

The  above  information  I  lay  before  the  Tribu- 
nal of  the  Holy  Office,  to  be  applied  to  the  requi- 
site purposes.     God  preserve  you  many  years. 
Francisco  Marcer,  Cur  a  Parroco. 

Canellas,  November  18th,  1819. 
29 


226  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

The  Inquisitor  Fiscal  declares  it  as  his  opinion 
that  the  investigation  of  the  above  matter  should 
be  suspended  and  recorded  for  want  of  proof. 

D.   Castillon. 

Secret  Chamber,  November  23d,  1819. 

The  said  Inquisitor  having  examined  the  above 
proceedings,  in  his  morning  audience,  on  the  day 
before  stated,  ordered  that  the  investigation  be 
suspended  for  want  of  proof,  and  that  it  be  record- 
ed in  the  registers  under  the  name  of  the  person 
referred  to. 

Attest.     Dr  Don  Cyro  Valls  y  Geli,  Setfy. 


Information  has  been  received  and  sworn  to  in 
this  Holy  Office,  that  a  certain  person  has,  in  the 
presence  of  others,  among  whom  was  Juan  Bona- 
fos,  surgeon,  living  in  the  house  of  Don  Antonio 
Canals,  uttered  the  following  assertions. 

1st.  That  the  priests  in  the  holy  sacrifice  of 
Mass,  have  no  power  to  bring  Christ  down  from 
heaven,  which  is  proved  by  the  example  of  the 
English,  who,  although  so  learned  a  people,  yet 
do  not  believe  this,  which  they  would  if  it  were 
true,  from  their  great  sagacity. 

2d.  That  the  French  have  done  right  in 
breaking  up  so  many  ecclesiastical  and  lay  com- 
munities, which  were  the  cause  of  such  a  multi- 
tude of  dissensions  and  altercations,  destructive  to 
the  crown  and  to  the  Apostolic  Roman  Catholic 
Church. 


"RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  227 

3d.  That  the  chaplains  dress  in  black  to  cover 
their  ignorance,  inasmuch  as  they  know  nothing. 

4th.     That  there  is  no  hell  nor  purgatory. 

5th.  That  the  highest  disgrace  which  could  be- 
fall him  in  this  world,  would  be  to  have  one  of  his 
relations  a  monk,  or  the  Beneficiado  of  a  parish. 

6th.  That  if  the  Tribunal  were  to  order  him 
to  be  arrested,  he  had  arms  in  his  house  and  would 
resist  till  he  had  killed  four  or  five. 

In  consequence  of  this,  we  hereby  grant  a  com- 
mission to  our  Commissary  Dr  Antonio  Amill,  for 
the  examination  before  Dr  Andres  Fernandez  de 
la  Cuesta,  Presbyter,  as  Notary,  of  the  said  Juan 
Bonafos,  according  to  the  formula  herewith  sub- 
joined. The  name  and  residence  of  the  speaker 
and  those  who  were  present,  are  to  be  recorded, 
as  also  all  the  circumstances  of  time,  place,  &c, 
as  prescribed  in  the  above  direction ;  the  whole  to 
be  forwarded  to  us  with  this  commission.  God 
preserve  you. 

Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barcelona, 
June  eleventh,  1791. 

The  Licentiate, 

Don  Manuel  de  Merra  y  Paniagua. 
Dr  Don  Pedro  Diaz  de  Valdes. 
Juan  Antonio  Almonacid,  Sechj. 


In  the  city  of  Barcelona,  on  the  eleventh  day  of 
July,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninetyone, 
before  Dr  Antonio  Amill,  Presbyter  and  Commis- 
sary of  the  Holy  Office,  by  virtue  of  a  commission 
of  the  Holy  Tribunal  of  the  Inquisition  of  Catalo- 


228  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

nia,  and  me,  Andres  Fernandez  de  la  Cuesta, 
Presbyter  and  Notary,  having  sworn  to  preserve 
secrecy,  and  perform  faithfully  our  duties,  appear- 
ed and  made  oath  to  declare  the  truth  and  pre- 
serve secrecy,  Juan  Bonafos,  surgeon,  a  native  of 
the  village  of  San  Lorenzo  de  la  Muga,  in  the 
bishopric  of  Gerona,  of  age,  as  he  stated,  twenty- 
one  years. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the  cause 
of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  he  did  not  know. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  that  any  person  had 
said  or  done  aught  which  was,  or  appeared  to 
be,  contrary  to  our  Holy  Catholic  Faith  and  Evan- 
gelical Doctrine. 

Answered,  Yes,  inasmuch  as  about  six  months 
before,  he  had  heard  Joseph  Coch,  a  surgeon, 
native  of  Sellern,  and  at  present  residing  in  Bar- 
celona, make  the  following  assertions. 

1st.  That  the  priests  &c.  [The  six  assertions 
specified  above.] 

On  another  occasion,  the  deponent  having  stat- 
ed to  him  that  he  had  been  in  the  Carthusian 
Convent,  where  he  read  an  edict  of  the  Holy  Tri- 
bunal, prohibiting  several  books,  and  among  them, 
one  called  Avisos  de  Moises,  the  above  person 
replied,  that  as  Christ  had  abolished  the  law  of 
Moses,  he  hoped  that  another  Christ  would  come 
and  abolish  the  laws  of  the  first.  He  moreover 
told  him  that  he  had  prohibited  books  in  his  pos- 
session, which  in  fact  he  showed  to  the  deponent. 
Their  titles  the  deponent  does  not  know. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  229 

Questioned,  in  what  place  the  abovementioned 
Josef  Coch  made  these  assertions,  and  what  per- 
sons were  present  at  the  time. 

Answered,  that  it  was  at  the  house  of  the  sur- 
geon B amnion,  in  the  Calle  de  los  Flasades ;  and 
that  the  person  present  was  Antonio  Trabe,  sur- 
geon, who  lives  with  Dr  Torner,  Beneficiado  of 
San  Justo. 

Questioned,  what  was  the  age  and  personal  ap- 
pearance of  the  said  Joseph  Coch. 

Answered,  that  he  should  suppose  him  to  be 
about  thirtythree  years  old ;  that  he  was  of  a  mid- 
dling height,  with  a  thin,  pock  marked  face,  and 
black  hair. 

The  above  is  the  truth,  according  to  the  oath  of 
the  deponent,  who  states  that  he  has  not  made 
this  declaration  out  of  malice,  but  solely  from  con- 
scientious motives.  Having  been  read  to  him,  he 
declares  it  to  be  correctly  recorded.  I  add  his 
signature.  Juan  Bonafos. 

Dr  Antonio  Amill,  Presbyter  Commissary. 

Before  me — 

Andres  Fernandez  de  la  Cuesta, 

Presbyter  Commissary,  Notary. 


In  the  city  of  Barcelona,  on  the  twentysecond 
day  of  March,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
ninetytwo,  before  Dr  Andres  Fernandes  de  la  Cu- 
esta, Presbyter  and  Commissary  of  the  Holy  Of- 
fice, by  virtue  of  a  commission  from  the  Holy 
Tribunal  of  the  Inquisition  of  Catalonia,  and  me, 


230  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Francisco  Junca,  Presbyter  Notary,  appointed  for 
this  investigation,  sworn  to  preserve  secrecy  and 
perform  faithfully  the  duty, — appeared  according 
to  summons,  and  made  oath  formally  to  declare 
the  truth  and  preserve  secrecy,  Francisco  Beau, 
clerk,  a  native  and  inhabitant  of  Barcelona,  and 
residing  in  the  Calle  dels  Tallers,  in  the  house  of 
the  Earthen  Ware  Company,  on  the  second  floor, 
of  age,  as  he  stated,  thirtyeight  years. 

Questioned,    if  he    knew   or   conjectured    the 
cause  of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  that  he  supposed  it  might  be  for  the 
purpose  of  inquiring  about  the  following  matter. 
Being  one  day  at  dinner,  in  the  tavern  of  Domin- 
go   ,  in  the  Calle  de  la  Paja,  he  heard  a  certain 

Estruch,  and  another  person  who  was  a  fifer  in 
the  Walloon  Guards,  talking  about  the  French 
affairs.  The  said  fifer  spoke  against  the  chris- 
tian religion  and  Spain,  and  Estruch  opposed  him. 
Among  other  things  in  the  conversation,  this  fifer 
observed  that  he  believed  only  three  things ;  but 
what  these  were,  the  deponent  could  not  recollect — 
it  was  so  long  ago — only  one  of  them,  as  it  appears 
to  him,  related  to  giving  charity.  He  declared 
that  he  possessed  many  books,  and  was  not  afraid 
of  the  Inquisition,  for  he  had  already  been  engaged 
in  some  disputes  relative  to  a  woman,  which  had 
come  under  the  cognisance  of  the  Holy  Tribunal, 
or  some  of  the  officers.  More  of  the  conversation 
than  this,  he  does  not  remember. 

The  deponent  was  then  told  that  information 
had  been  received  and  sworn  to,  that  a  certain 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  231 

person  had  uttered,  in  his  presence,  and  in  that  of 
others,  the  following  assertions ;  that  fornication 
was  no  sin,  and  as  to  the  rest,  the  whole  ivas  made 
good  by  giving  charity  to  the  poor.  Other  persons 
having  mentioned  the  commandments,  he  replied, 
that  they  were  all  fulfilled  by  giving  alms.  Speak- 
ing disrespectfully  of  the  church,  he  asserted, 
that  the  friars  arid  chaplains  did  nothing  but  eat 
and  stuff  their  paunches ;  that  the  church  sought  noth- 
ing but  her  own  interest,  collecting  tithes  from  one 
year's  end  to  another ;  that  the  Pope  had  no  more 
power  than  any  other  man ;  that  he  did  not  believe 
in  the  decalogue,  nor  the  obligation  to  hear  mass  and 
confess,  but  only  that  there  was  a  God,  and  that  men 
were  bound  to  give  to  the  poor,  and  not  steal.  The 
conversation  turning  upon  the  miracles  performed 
by  the  intercession  of  the  Saints,  he  asserted  that 
he  believed  none  of  them,  because  he  had  not  witnessed 
them.  Those  of  Christ  being  mentioned,  he  made 
this  remark  ; — '  What  a  length  of  time  from  that  peri- 
od to  1791!  and  yet  you  believe  them  ! '  thereby  giv- 
ing it  to  be  understood  that  he  did  not  believe 
them. 

The  deponent  was  therefore  admonished  in  the 
name  of  God  our  Lord,  and  his  Glorious  and  Bless- 
ed Mother,  Our  Lady,  the  Virgin  Mary,  to  bethink 
himself  and  declare  the  whole  truth. 

Answered,  that  he  heard  the  whole  of  these  as- 
sertions except  the  first  and  last,  relating  to  the 
miracles. 

Questioned,  why  he  had  not  given  information 
of  what  he  had  heard  to   the  Holy  Office,  inas- 


232  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

much  as  it  was  so  directly  contrary  to  Our  Holy 
Religion  and  Evangelical  Law. 

Answered,  that  he  was  so  occupied  with  his 
dinner,  and  the  debates  going  on,  that  he  never 
thought  of  the  obligation. 

Questioned,  from  what  cause  and  motive,  and 
to  what  end  the  said  fifer  uttered  these  scandalous 
expressions ;  how  many  times,  and  what  persons 
were  present.  Also,  whether  he  was  mad  or 
drunk  at  the  time,  and  whether  he  had  been  re- 
buked ;  how  many  times  this  was  done,  and  if  he 
abstained. 

Answered,  that  he  knew  nothing  of  the  cause, 
motive,  or  end  of  these  vvords  being  spoken  ;  that 
they  were  uttered  only  once  at  the  noon  above 
specified,  in  the  sight  and  hearing  of  the  deponent. 
That  the  persons  present  were  the  abovemention- 
ed  Domingo,  and  a  certain  Juan,  who,  he  believed, 
resided  in  the  Calle  Condal,  next  the  house  of  Dr 
Juncia,  on  the  second  or  third  floor  ;  also  anoth- 
er person  whom  he  did  not  remember;  that  he 
judged  him  to  have  been  in  his  right  mind,  having 
asked  the  said  Domingo  in  the  presence  of  Estruch 
whether  this  man  had  not  drunk  too  much,  to 
which  he  replied  that  it  could  not  be  the  effect  of 
the  wine,  as  he  had,  on  other  occasions,  drunk 
more.  That  he  did  not  recollect  whether  he  was 
rebuked,  but  only  that  they  kept  disputing. 

Questioned,  what  was  the  personal  appearance 
and  age  of  the  said  fifer. 

Answered,  that  he  was  of  a  middling  size,  about 
forty  years  old,  and  had  been  the  gardener  of  the 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  233 

citadel ;  that  he  belonged  to   the  grenadier  com- 
pany of  Brias,  according  to  his  own  statement. 

The  whole  of  the  above  is  the  truth  according 
to  the  oath  sworn  by  the  deponent,  who  also  de- 
clared that  the  declarations  were  not  made  by 
him  out  of  malice  or  ill  will,  but  solely  to  discharge 
his  conscience.  The  whole  being  read  in  his  hear- 
ing, was  declared  by  him  to  be  correctly  recorded, 
and  he  added  his  signature. 

Francisco  Beau. 
Dr  Andres  Fernandez  de  la  Cuesta, 

Presbyter  and  Commissary. 
Before  me — 

Francisco  Juncia,  Presbyter  Notary 

for  this  Investigation. 


In  the  city  of  Barcelona,  on  the  fourteenth  day 
of  June,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  two,  be- 
fore the  Reverend  Cayetano  Tuco,  Presbyter  and 
Commissary  appointed  for  this  investigation,  and 
me,  the  Reverend  Juan  Palo],  Presbyter  Notary, 
sworn  to  preserve  secrecy  and  perform  faithfully 
our  duties,  appeared,  voluntarily,  and  made  oath 
in  the  name  of  God  our  Lord  to  declare  the  truth 
and  preserve  secrecy  in  everything  upon  which  she 
might  be  questioned,  a  woman,  calling  herself 
Maria  Anna  Sauri,  a  native  of  the  town  of  Trem, 
in  the  bishopric  of  Urgel,  of  age,  as  she  stated, 
forty  years,  a  resident  in  Barcelona  for  twentysix 
years,  and  at  present  residing  in  the  Calle  de  Ba- 
sea,  in  the  fourth  story  of  a  house  opposite  a  car- 
30 


234  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

penter's,  next  the  stairs  called  den  Casador.  She 
was  the  widow  of  Juan  Martines,  merchant,  a  na- 
tive of  the  town  of  Figueras  in  the  bishopric  of 
Gerona. 

Questioned,  why  she  had  demanded  an  audi- 
ence of  the  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  for  the  purpose  of  denouncing  cer- 
tain matters  to  the  Holy  Tribunal. 

Questioned,  what  matters. 

Answered,  that  about  six  months  ago  she  dwelt 
in  the  Calle  de  San  Raymundo,  near  the  Calle  del 
Asalto,  in  a  house  between  a  tavern  on  one  side, 
and  a  tailor's  shop  on  the  other.  In  this  neigh- 
bourhood resided  a  female  named,  formerly,  Te- 
resa Sola,  and  after  her  second  marriage,  Salano- 
va,  a  native  of  Barcelona,  aged  from  forty  to  for- 
tyseven  years.  Her  husband  was  named  Francisco 
Salanova,  and  was  by  trade  a  weaver,  and  a  na- 
tive of  San  Felix  de  Llobregat.  The  deponent 
witnessed  several  transactions  between  the  said 
Teresa  Sola,  now  Salanova,  and  a  Swiss  soldier 
of  the  regiment  called  JBretxa.  This  soldier  was 
called  Joseph ;  his  other  name  unknown,  as  well 
as  the  place  of  his  birth.  Information  respecting 
him  could  be  obtained  of  a  certain  captain,  called 
Don  Felice  Cristi. 

The  deponent  saw  these  two  persons  take  cer- 
tain live  frogs,  stick  needles  into  their  eyes, 
breasts,  and  backs,  and  put  them  into  a  new  pot 
over  a  great  fire.  This  was  done,  as  they  informed 
her,  for  the  purpose  of  compelling  a  certain  man 
to  marriage.     She  also  saw   them  take  three  or 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  235 

four  wax  candles  and  light  them.  These  they  burnt 
bottom  upwards,  burning,  at  the  same  time,  rose- 
mary, and  repeating  unintelligible  language,  and 
making  divers  motions  with  the  feet  and  hands. 

The  deponent  also  saw  them  practise  opera- 
tions with  cards  for  the  purpose  of  divining  what- 
ever things  they  chose.  She  requested  them  to 
perform  one  for  her,  and  ascertain  whether  a  per- 
son named  Vicente,  whom  she  supposed  to  be  sick, 
would  return  soon  from  Valencia.  '  The  said  Te- 
resa shuffled  the  cards,  and  then  answered  me  that 
he  was  not  sick,  and  would  return  soon,  which  in 
fact  took  place,  and  the  abovementioned  Vicente 
shortly  appeared.  She  told  me,  at  the  same 
time,  that  I  was  in  much  distress,  and  if  I  would 
give  her  and  the  abovementioned  soldier  half  a  dol- 
lar, they  would  enable  me  to  attain  all  my  wishes. 
I  gave  them  the  money,  and  saw  that  they  imme- 
diately took  the  figure  of  a  dragon  tied  by  the 
neck,  and  placed  it  in  the  sun.  This  occasioned 
me  so  much  terror  that  I  begged  them  to  desist. 
Upon  this  they  gave  me  back  the  half  dollar,  ut- 
tering maledictions,  and  the  said  Teresa  declared 
that  I  was  about  to  fall  into  an  irretrievable  mis- 
fortune, and  that  I  should  be  obliged  to  sell  ev- 
ery rag  from  my  back,  which  in  truth  is  my  con- 
dition at  present ;  and  although  1  only  laughed  at 
the  prediction  then,  they  both  told  me  that  I 
might  proclaim  to  the  whole  world  that  they  had 
said  it.' 

The    deponent   further    stated    that   the   said 
Teresa  had  a  companion  named  Maria  Anna  Gi- 


236  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

tar,  a  native  of  Barcelona  and  a  resident  in  the 
Calle  de  San  Raymundo.  The  deponent  has  nev- 
er seen  this  person  perform  any  superstious  acts, 
but  has  heard  that  on  occasion  of  a  quarrel  be- 
tween them,  some  witchcraft  was  practised ;  also 
that  the  said  Maria  Anna  Gitar  had  a  sister  nam- 
ed Magdalena,  (the  name  of  her  husband  un- 
known) and  the  deponent  heard  the  abovemen- 
tioned  Teresa  Sola,  now  Salanova,  declare  that 
her  sister  Magdalena  had  not  been  at  confession 
for  the  space  of  eight  years.  At  other  times, 
when  these  two  were  quarrelling,  the  deponent 
has  heard  the  said  Magdalena  exclaim,  '  I  am  not 
like  you,  who  lay  heaps  of  rosemary  in  the  balco- 
ny at  night  to  burn  the  next  morning.' 

Furthermore,  the  deponent  has  seen  the  said 
Teresa  Sola,  now  Salanova,  burn  alum  for  some 
superstitious  purpose,  to  her  unknown.  On  this 
occasion  there  were  two  other  persons  present, 
namely,  a  girl  called  Antonia,  about  twentythree 
years  of  age,  a  native  of  Barcelona,  and  living 
with  the  abovementioned  Teresa,  and  Raymundo 
Campens,  widow  of  Esteva  Campens,  tailor,  dwell- 
ing in  the  Calle  de  San  Raymundo,  aged,  appar- 
ently, about  forty  five  years. 

Furthermore,  the  deponent  remembers  that  she 
saw  the  said  Teresa  and  the  abovementioned  sol- 
dier called  Joseph,  burn  alum  for  the  purpose  of 
causing  a  reconciliation  between  a  young  man 
and  a  female  named  Magdalena,  which  persons 
had  fallen  into  a  quarrel.  The  said  Teresa  also 
practised  operations  with  cards,   and  burnt  rose- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  237 

mary,  in  order  to  effect  this  object.  On  the  first 
occasion  were  present  the  abovementioned  Anto- 
nia  and  Raymunda  Campens,  and  on  the  second, 
Josefa  Bardaguer,  a  girl  of  about  twenty  years  of 
age,  living  in  the  Plazuela  del  Pino  in  the  second 
story  of  a  house  which  makes  a  corner  of  the  Pla- 
zuela, and  other  persons  whom  she  does  not  re- 
member, as  she  had  witnessed  these  performances 
between  the  said  Teresa  and  the  soldier  so  many 

times. 

The  said  Teresa  also  informed  her  that  she  pos- 
sessed a  St  Antonio  upon  paper,  which  sweated 
whenever  any  ill  was  about  to  happen,  and  that 
when  a  pack  of  cards  was  shuffled  and  the  ace  of 
spades  and  five  of  diamonds  drawn,  it  signified  death 
or  apprehension  by  the  Holy  Office.  The  depo- 
nent further  stated  that  the  said  Teresa,  was  accus- 
tomed to  burn  rosemary,  and  sprinkle  holy  water 
all  over  her  house,  walking  backwards  to  the 
door ;  and  that  she  possessed  an  herb  which 
foretold  everything,  good  or  bad,  about  to  hap- 
pen. Upon  the  stalk  of  this  herb  she  placed 
a  piece  of  gold  or  silver  money,  or  a  ring ;  and 
the  deponent  on  one  of  these  occasions  saw  a  tile 
fall  from  the  balcony  into  the  street.  In  this  tile 
was  a  piece  of  a  silver  key,  a  gold  ring,  and  seven 
reals  vellon. 

Furthermore,  the  deponent  has  heard  that  when 
the  said  Teresa  lived  in  the  Calle  de  Arolas,  there 
ran  out  of  her  house,  one  day,  a  dog,  with  an  ox's 
heart,  stuck  full  of  needles,  and  that  the  Alcalde, 
whose   name  is  unknown  to  the  deponent,   with 


238  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

the  men  and  boys  of  the  neighbourhood,  caught 
the  dog  and  burnt  him  in  the  middle  of  the  street. 

The  deponent  has  also  seen  the  said  Teresa 
burn  nine  plates  and  three  strings  of  cotton,  which 
she  informed  her  was  done  to  break  the  heart  of  a 
certain  person.  She  also  told  the  deponent  that 
on  the  night  of  St  John's  day,  she  went  to  collect 
the  leaves  of  certain  herbs  in  a  place  called  Trini- 
dad, where  criminals  who  have  been  hanged  are 
buried.  There  accompanied  her  three  or  four  wo- 
men and  a  man  who  was  a  lamplighter.  The  names 
of  none  of  them  were  known  to  the  deponent. 
Three  or  four  men  came  out  and  threw  stones  at 
them  without  hitting  any  one.  She  also  informed 
the  deponent  that  she  had  in  her  possession  med- 
als and  a  crucifix  of  the  Holy  Office. 

Furthermore,  the  deponent  stated  that  she  re- 
quested her  to  ascertain  whether  a  person  of  her 
acquaintance  in  Valencia  would  return  soon  to 
Barcelona ;  and  the  said  Teresa  Sola,  now  Salan- 
ova,  bade  her  go  and  purchase  a  pack  of  French 
cards  at  the  shop  of  Revella,  in  the  Plaza  del 
Angel.  This  the  deponent  did,  and  paid  two 
reals  plate  for  them.  The  cards  being  produced, 
an  operation  was  performed,  and  she  pronounced 
that  he  would  return  ere  long,  and  that  he  had 
met  with  a  misfortune ;  for,  on  a  journey  to  visit  his 
sister,  he  had  fallen  from  his  horse  and  broken  his 
leg.  She  then  further  declared  that  at  half  past 
six  o'clock  the  next  morning  he  would  be  in  Bar- 
celona ;  the  whole  of  which  proved  true,  for  at 
half  past  six  he  knocked  at  the  door  and  said  he 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  239 

had  been  on  a  visit  to  his  sister,  who  was  a  nun, 
and  had  fallen  from  his  horse  and  broken  his  leg. 

Furthermore,  the  deponent  stated  that  she  had 
seen  divinations  with  cards  performed  by  the  sur- 
geon of  the  Swiss  soldiers  in  the  regiment  called 
the  regiment  of  Bretxa,  now  in  Madrid.  This 
surgeon  was  called  Don  Felipe.  His  other  name 
is  unknown  to  the  deponent.  She  has  also  seen  in 
his  possession  a  book  filled  with  figures  of  tombs, 
evil  spirits,  and  skeletons  ;  and  the  surgeon  told 
her  that  it  contained  matter  which  was  denouncea- 
ble.  There  was  present  on  this  occasion  the  wife 
of  the  colonel  of  the  Swiss  regiment,  called  Dona 
Maria.  Her  other  name  and  birthplace  the  de- 
ponent did  not  know  ;  but  only  that  when  the  regi- 
ment was  in  Barcelona,  the  said  Don  Maria  dwelt 
in  the  Calle  Nueva  del  Asalto. 

Questioned,  what  else  she  knew  or  had  to  re- 
late. 

Answered,  that  she  had  seen  the  above  prac- 
tices performed  so  often  that  she  had  forgotten  a 
great  many  instances. 

Questioned,  what  persons  were  present  on  any 
of  the  above  occasions. 

Answered,  that  she  had  already  named  them. 

Questioned,  if  she  had  seen  or  heard  that  any 
other  person  had  said  or  done  anything  against 
Our  Holy  Catholic  Faith,  or  against  the  proceed- 
ings of  this  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  that  she  knew  nothing  further,  -and 
had  she  known  anything,  should  have  divulged  it 
before. 


240  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Questioned,  why  she  suffered  so  much  time  to 
elapse  without  giving  information. 

Answered,  that  she  was  ignorant  of  her  obliga- 
tion to  do  this,  till  on  relating  these  things  to  her 
spiritual  father,  he  ordered  her  to  make  a  deposi- 
tion of  the  whole  before  the  Holy  Tribunal. 

Questioned,  what  was  the  personal  appearance 
of  the  abovementioned  Teresa  Sola,  now  Salano- 
va ;  of  the  soldier ;  of  Maria  Anna  Gitar,  and  her 
sister. 

Answered,  that  Teresa  Sola,  now  Salanova,  was 
a  well  shaped  person,  somewhat  fleshy,  with  a 
dusky  complexion,  reddish  eyes,  chestnut  hair, 
and  small  hands,  having  no  scar  to  distinguish  her. 
That  Maria  Anna  Gitar  was  a  tall  person,  with  an 
ugly  pock  marked  face,  the  color  of  her  eyes, 
hair,  &c.  not  remembered.  That  her  sister  Mag- 
dalena  was  a  small  person,  with  a  face  likewise 
ugly  and  pock  marked  ;  other  characteristics  for- 
gotten. That  the  soldier  called  Joseph  was  a  well 
shaped  person,  with  a  long,  palish  face,  and  chest- 
nut hair  ;  the  other  marks  not  remembered. 

The  above,  being  read  to  the  deponent,  was  pro- 
nounced to  be  her  own  declaration,  and  faithfully 
recorded.  She  declared  that  she  had  nothing  to 
correct  of  its  contents,  except  that  the  abovemen- 
tioned Magdalena  was  not  the  sister  of  the  said 
Teresa,  but  of  Maria  Anna  Gitar.  She  affirmed 
that  she  did  not  make  the  declaration  out  of  mal- 
ice or  ill  will  against  the  abovementioned  Teresa 
Sola,  now  Salanova,  the  soldier  Joseph,  Maria 
Anna  Gitar,  and  her  sister  Magdalena ;  but  solely 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  241 

to  discharge  her  conscience.  Secrecy  was  enjoin- 
ed upon  her  which  she  promised,  and  not  being 
able  to  write,  I,  the  present  Commissary,  sign  in 
her  name. 

Cayetano  Tuco,  Presbyter  and  Commissary. 

Before  me — 

Juan  Palol,  Presbyter,  Commissary,  and  Notary. 


In  the  city  of  Barcelona,  on  the  eighteenth  day 
of  June,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  two,  be- 
fore me,  Cayetano  Tuco,  Presbyter  and  Commis- 
sary, appointed  for  this  investigation,  and  me,  the 
Reverend  Juan  Palol,  Presbyter  Notary,  both 
sworn  to  preserve  secrecy,  appeared  and  made 
oath  in  the  name  of  God  our  Lord,  to  declare  the 
truth  and  preserve  secrecy,  Maria  Anna  Sauri, 
widow,  being  also  present,  in  the  quality  of  honest 
and  religious  persons,  the  Presbyters  whose  names 
are  signed  below. 

Questioned,  if  she  remembered  having  made  a 
declaration  before  the  ministers  of  the  Holy  Office 
against  any  persons  for  crimes  within  her  know- 
ledge. 

Answered,  and  related  substantially  the  whole 
of  the  preceding  declaration.  She  requested  that 
it  might  be  produced  and  read. 

The  deponent  was  then  informed  that  the  Pro- 
motor  Fiscal  of  the  Holy  Office  presented  her  as 
a  witness  ad  perpetuam  rei  memoriam,  in  a  cause 
under  his  direction  against  the  said  Teresa  Sola, 
now  Salanova,  against  the  Swiss  soldier  named 
Joseph,  against  Maria  Anna  Gitar,  and  against  her 
31 


242  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

sister  Magdalena,  whose  husband's  name  is  un- 
known. The  deponent  was  directed  to  give  at- 
tention while  her  declaration  was  read,  and  if  she 
found  anything  to  add  or  alter  of  its  contents,  to 
perform  it  in  such  a  manner  as  to  declare  the  truth, 
as  her  assertions  might  prejudice  the  said  persons. 
The  above  deposition  was  then  read  de  verbo  ad 
verbnm,  the  deponent  hearing  and  understanding 
the  same. 

The  deponent  declared  that  it  was  her  identical 
deposition,  as  it  had  been  read  and  recorded  ;  that 
she  had  nothing  to  add  or  alter  respecting  it,  for 
the  whole  was  the  truth  which  she  attested  and 
ratified ;  and  that  if  necessary,  she  was  ready  to 
repeat  the  whole  against  the  said  Teresa,  Maria 
Anna,  Magdalena,  and  the  soldier,  and  against  the 
surgeon  Don  Felipe,  not  from  malice  or  ill  will, 
but  solely  to  discharge  her  conscience.  Secrecy 
was  enjoined  upon  her  anew,  which  she  promised 
to  observe,  and  the  deponent  not  being  able  to 
write,  I,  the  said  Commissary,  sign  in  her  name 
along  with  the  honest  persons. 

Cayetano  Tuco,  Presbyter  and  Commissary. 

Francisco  Palmarola,  Presbyter. 

Antonio  Huguet,  Presbyter. 
Before  me — 
Juan  Palol,  Presbyter,  Commissary,  and  Notary. 


TO  CAYETANO  TUCO,  PRESBYTER  COMMISSARY. 

In  consequence  of  the  deficiency  of  the  informa- 
tion relating  to  the  deposition  of  Mariana  Sauri, 
widow,  native  of  Tremp,  and  residing  in  Barcelo- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  243 

na,  in  the  Calle  de  Basea,  in  the  upper  story  of  a 
house  opposite  a  carpenter's,  the  Tribunal  has  or- 
dered that  you  be  instructed  to  make  inquiries 
with  all  possible  expedition  respecting  the  charac- 
ter and  responsibility  of  the  abovementioned  per- 
son, and  of  the  credit  due  to  her  testimony ;  also 
respecting  the  character  and  conduct  of  Teresa 
Salanova,  wife  of  Francisco  Salanova,  weaver,  liv- 
ing, as  it  appears,  in  the  Calle  de  San  Raymon, 
between  a  tavern  and  a  tailor's  shop.  You  will 
likewise   make  the  same  inquiries  respecting  the 

life  and  character  of  Joseph ,  a  soldier  in  the 

Swiss  regiment  of  Vetchar,  and  whether  these  per- 
sons conform  to  the  precepts  of  the  Church  in  the 
annual  confession  and  Paschal  communion.  These 
orders  I  transmit  for  your  execution.  Our  Lord 
preserve  you. 

Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barcelona, 
June  28th,  1802. 

Dr  Don  Ciro  Valls  y  Geli,  Sec'y. 


TO    THE    MOST    ILLUSTRIOUS    INQUISITOR. 
MOST  ILLUSTRIOUS   SIR, 

I  have  made  inquiries  of  the  Vicar  of  the  dis- 
trict of  the  Calle  Nueva  de  Asalto  and  other  streets, 
for  the  purpose  of  learning  the  character  and  con- 
duct of  Teresa  Sola,  now  Salanova,  and  of  the 
girl  Antonia,  who  lives  with  her,  and  whose  name 
has  hitherto  been  unknown,  but  is  now  ascertain- 
ed to  be  Antonia  Costa.  These  two  persons  live 
in  the  third  story  of  a  house  which  makes  the  cor- 
ner of  the  Calle  de  la  Guardia.     It  has  been  as- 


244  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

certained  from  the  cartepacio  of  the  communions, 
that  neither  the  said  Teresa  Salanova,  nor  Anto- 
nia  Costa,  have,  within  the  present  year,  presented 
their  certificates  of  the  Paschal  communion. 

Respecting  the  soldier  named  Joseph,  of  the 
Swiss  regiment  of  Vetchar,  1  have  not  been  able 
to  learn  anything,  except  that  the  regiment  is  now 
in  Madrid. 

The  above  is  the  substance  of  what  I  have  suc- 
ceeded in  learning,  and  I  communicate  the  same 
that  your  Excellency  may  apply  it  to  the  proper 
purposes.  God  preserve  the  life  of  your  Excel- 
lency many  years. 

Barcelona,  July  2d,  1802. 

Your  most  humble  chaplain  who  kisses  the  hands 
of  your  Excellency, 

Cayetano  Tuco,  Presbyter  Commissary. 


TO    THE    MOST    ILLUSTRIOUS    INQUISITOR. 
MOST    ILLUSTRIOUS   SIR, 

I  have  made  the  most  industrious  search  for  in- 
formation respecting  the  character  and  life  of  Ma- 
ria Anna  Sauri,  widow,  but  cannot  ascertain  what 
degree  of  credit  ought  to  be  attached  to  her  testi- 
mony. 1  am  informed  by  the  Reverend  Antonio 
Huguet,  Presbyter,  that  he  has  some  knowledge 
of  her,  as  all  these  persons  belong  to  the  town  of 
Tremp.  He  cannot  tell,  however,  what  life  she 
leads,  and  only  knows  that  she  has  been  in  the 
Galera.  I  made  inquiries  of  the  Pacionero  del 
Pino,  and  he  stated  to  me  that  he  had  seen  her  in 
the  Galera,  where  she  was  then  in  custody  for 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  245 

smuggling.     Nothing   more   respecting   her   was 
known. 

I  have,  with  the  assistance  of  the  Vicar  del  Pino, 
examined  the  cartepacio  of  communions  of  the 
whole  district  of  the  Calle  de  Asalto,  Calle  de 
Lancastre,  Calle  den  Guardia,  Calle  del  Olmo, 
Calle  de  San  Olaguer,  which,  as  supposed  by  her 
in  her  deposition,  must  be  the  second  Calle  de 
San  Ramon,  the  whole  Calle  de  San  Ramon,  and 
all  the  lanes.  No  part  of  the  cartepacio  exhibits 
the  name  of  Marianna  Sauri.  I  then  proceeded  to 
Santa  Maria  del  Mar,  as  the  Calle  de  Basea,  where 
she  resides,  is  situated  in  that  parish,  and  here  in 
the  cartepacio  of  the  communions  it  was  found, 
but  nothing  further  to  direct  me.  She  has  left 
Barcelona,  whether  for  Tremp  or  Figueras,  I  can- 
not positively  determine. 

The  above  information  1  communicate  to  your 
Excellency  to  be  applied  to  the  proper  purposes. 

Barcelona,  July  2d,  1802. 

Your  most  humble  chaplain  who  kisses  the 
hands  of  your  Excellency. 

Cayetano  Tuco,  Presbyter  and  Commissary. 


MOST    ILLUSTRIOUS    SIR, 

Father  Fr.  Vicente  Xaus,  Franciscan,  residing 
in  the  Franciscan  Convent  of  Gerona,  by  an  extra 
sacramental  commission  from  Eulalia  Forcat, 
dwelling  in  the  Hospicio  of  that  city,  with  the  in- 


246  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

tention  to  assume  the  scapulary  of  a  sister,  gives 
information  to  the  Holy  Tribunal,  that  Joseph 
Jalbert,  merchant,  a  resident,  as  well  as  the  other 
persons  referred  to,  in  this  city  of  Barcelona,  and 
now  residing  in  the  Callejuela  de  San  Antonio,  in 
a  house  where  a  herbseller  keeps,  uttered  about 
two  years  ago,  certain  insulting  language  about 
Ecclesiastics,  both  secular  and  regular,  saying 
they  were  a  set  of  vagabonds,  and  that  he  would 
not  give  them  money,  with  many  other  things 
which  she  has  forgotten.  These  words  were  said 
at  the  house  and  in  the  presence  of  Seiior  Fran- 
cisco Galup,  merchant,  living  in  the  Calle  de  la 
Merced,  and  who  can  give  further  information  of 
the  facts.  At  another  time,  and  in  the  presence 
of  the  abovementioned  Eulalia  Forcat  and  Augus- 
tina  Buxeras,  a  resident  in  the  Calle  de  Basea, 
besides  his  accustomed  speeches  above  described, 
he  took  a  paper  on  which  was  the  figure  of  a  Saint, 
and  rubbed  it  over  his  posteriors  outside  of  his 
clothes.  The  said  Eulalia  also  saw  him  open  a 
book  containing  many  indecent  figures. 

Furthermore,  in  the  name  of  the  same  person, 
he  denounces  to  the  Holy  Tribunal  the  following 
matter.  Father  Fr.  Antonio  Puig,  of  Barcelona,  a 
monk  of  my  seraphic  order,  and  residing  in  the 
Grand  Convent  of  Barcelona,  a  thing  which  grieves 
me  exceedingly,  hearing  the  confession  of  this 
person,  in  which  she  informed  him  that  she  was 
mortifying  herself  with  the  exercise  of  the  penal 
discipline,  he  visited  her  one  day  when  she  was 
confined  to  her  bed  by  indisposition,  and  speaking 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  247 

of  her  penance,  she  discovered  to  him  a  portion 
of  her  body  where  she  had  applied  it,  when  the 
abovementioned  Father  examined  it,  and  felt  it 
with  his  hand,  asking  her  if  it  pained  her  where 
he  touched.  This  business,  God  be  thanked,  pro- 
ceeded no  further. 

He  furthermore  states  that  the  said  Father  did 
even  worse  than  this  to  the  abovementioned  Au- 
gustina,  as  he  had  learned  from  her  own  mouth. 
He  had  ascertained  from  her  confession,  that  she 
also  was  practising  the  penal  exercise,  and  went 
to  her  house  one  day,  where  he  disciplined  her  so 
violently  that  she  was  unable  to  sit  down.  She 
sent  for  the  abovementioned  Eulalia  to  examine 
her,  fearing  that  she  had  received  some  wound. 
The  said  Eulalia  does  not  recollect  that  she 
stated  he  had  disciplined  her  twice  before,  but  re- 
members that  she  asserted  she  had  seen  a  part  of 
the  good  Father's  body  uncovered. 

Upon  these  matters  the  Holy  Tribunal  will  in- 
stitute the  necessary  proceedings. 

P.  Vicente  Xaus,  Franciscan. 

Gerona,  June  2d,  1807. 

P.  S.  Both  the  above  occurrences  happened 
about  two  years  ago.  Nevertheless  a  few  days  after 
the  confession,  I  remember  that  the  said  Eulalia 
told  me  they  continued  to  confess  to  the  same 
Father. 


In  the  city  of  Gerona,  on  the  twentieth  day  of 
June,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seven,  be- 


248  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

fore  Dr  Narciso  Coll,  Presbyter,  Inquisitor  Honor- 
ary, and  Commissary,  appointed  for  this  investiga- 
tion, and  me  Joseph  Gasull,  Presbyter  Notary,  both 
sworn  to  preserve  secrecy,  and  perform  faithfully 
our  duties,  appeared  voluntarily,  and  made  oath 
to  declare  the  truth  and  preserve  secrecy  in  every- 
thing which  she  knew,  and  about  which  she  might 
be  interrogated,  a  person  calling  herself  Eulalia 
Forcat,  of  the  city  of  Barcelona,  aged  about  thirty 
years,  a  nun  and  attendant  upon  the  foundlings  in 
the  Royal  Hospicio  of  this  city. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  or  conjectured  the 
cause  of  her  being  summoned  to  appear  by  the 
Holy  Office. 

Answered,  that  she  did  not  know. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  or  had  heard  that  any 
person  had  said  or  done  anything  which  was,  or 
appeared  to  be,  contrary  to  Our  Holy  Catholic 
Faith  and  Evangelical  Law,  or  against  the  just 
proceedings  of  the  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  that  about  two  years  since,  being  in 
this  city,  and  serving  as  a  domestic  in  the  house 
of  Sefior  Francisco  Galup,  merchant,  in  the  Calle 
de  la  Merced,  she  heard  on  many  occasions, 
Joseph  Jalbert,  merchant,  a  young  man,  a  native 
of  Puigcerda,  and  who  transacted  business  in  this 
house  for  a  year,  and  then  removed  with  his  pa- 
rents to  the  Calle  de  San  Antonio,  utter  various  in- 
sulting and  abusive  words  against  the  Priests,  both 
secular  and  regular,  disputing  often  at  table  with 
the  said  Sefior  Francisco  Galup,  respecting  mat- 
ters of  religion,  declaring  that  the  Priesls  were  a 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  249 

parcel  of  useless  vagabonds,  and  that  they  ought 
to  be  set  to  work,  with  other  assertions  of  the  same 
kind,  which  were  uttered  repeatedly  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  deponent  and  Augustina  Buxeras,  both 
domestics  in  the  house,  Sefiora  Maria  Galup, 
Cayetano  Galup,  and  Sefior  Francisco  Galup. 
He  persisted  in  this  language,  notwithstanding 
they  all  checked  and  rebuked  him,  in  particular 
the  abovementioned  Sefior  Francisco  Galup. 

On  another  occasion  the  deponent  being  in 
company  with  the  aforesaid  Augustina  Buxeras, 
in  the  kitchen  of  the  house,  the  abovementioned 
Joseph  Jalbert  took  a  paper,  on  which  was  the  fig- 
ure of  a  Saint,  and  with  approbrium  to  religion 
passed  it  behind  him  over  his  clothes.  And  when 
they  rebuked  him  in  a  christian  manner,  he  laugh- 
ed and  left  them.  At  the  same  time  she  saw  in 
the  room  in  which  he  dwelt,  three  books,  bound 
in  the  French  manner,  of  a  small  size,  and  con- 
taining very  indecent  pictures  of  men  and  women. 
Neither  the  author  of  the  books  nor  the  subject 
were  known  to  her,  as  they  were  in  French.  He 
kept  them  in  his  possession  while  he  remained  in 
the  house,  and  on  his  departure  took  them  with 
him. 

Questioned,  what  was  the  age,  personal  appear- 
ance, residence,  &c.  of  the  abovementioned  per- 
son. 

Answered,  that  he  was   then   about  twentyone 

or  twentytwo  years  old,   of  a  moderate  stature, 

fleshy,  with  a  face   somewhat  long,    and    flaxen 

hair.     He   was  unmarried,  and  engaged  in  mer- 

32 


250  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

cantile  trade.     She  believed  that  he  lived  at  pres- 
ent in  Barcelona. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  that  any  other  person 
had  said  or  done  anything  which  was  or  appeared 
to  be  contrary  to  our  Holy  Faith  or  against  the 
just  proceedings  of  the  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  No. 

The  above  being  read  to  her  she  declared  that 
it  was  faithfully  recorded  conformably  to  her  own 
declaration,  and  that  she  had  nothing  to  add  or 
alter  respecting  it,  as  it  was  the  truth.  She  fur- 
ther stated  that  she  had  not  done  it  out  of  malice, 
or  ill  will  against  the  said  Joseph  Jalbert,  but  sole- 
ly to  discharge  her  conscience.  Secrecy  was  en- 
joined upon  her,  which  she  promised ;  and  the 
deponent,  not  being  able  to  write,  I,  the  said  Com- 
missary, sign  in  her  name. 

Narciso  Coll,  Presbyter,  and  for 
the  said  Deponent. 

Before  me — 

Joseph  Gasull,  Presbyter  Notary. 


In  the  city  of  Gerona,  on  the  twentyfifth  day  of 
June,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seven,  be- 
fore Dr  Narciso  Coll,  Presbyter,  Commissary  com- 
missioned for  this  investigation,  and  me,  Joseph 
Gasull,  Presbyter  Notary,  sworn  to  preserve  se- 
crecy, and  perform  faithfully  our  duties,  appeared, 
and  made  oath  to  declare  the  truth  and  preserve 
secrecy,  Eulalia  Forcat,  and  being  present  in  the 
quality  of  honest  and  religious  persons,  the  Rev. 
Gines  Torrent  and  the  Rev.  Thomas  Parella,  both 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  251 

Presbyter  Beneficadores  of  the  Holy  Church, 
sworn  to  preserve  secrecy.     She  was 

Questioned,  if  she  remembered  having  made  a 
declaration  before  the  Ministers  of  the  Holy  Of- 
fice against  any  person  for  crimes  within  her  know- 
ledge. 

Answered,  by  repeating,  substantially,  the  fore- 
going declaration  of  the  twentieth  of  June  cur- 
rent, made  before  the  Commissary  and  Notary 
whose  names  are  signed  below.  She  requested 
that  it  might  be  produced  and  read. 

The  deponent  was  then  informed  that  the  Pro- 
motor  Fiscal  of  the  Holy  Office  presented  her  as 
a  witness  ad  perpetuam  rei  memoriam  in  a  cause 
under  his  direction  against  the  persons  referred 
to  in  the  said  declaration.  She  was  directed  to 
give  attention  while  it  was  read,  and  if  she  found 
anything  to  add  or  alter  respecting  the  contents 
of  it,  to  do  it  in  such  a  manner  as  to  declare  the 
truth,  as  what  she  now  uttered  might  operate 
to  the  prejudice  of  the  aforesaid  persons.  The 
declaration  made  before  the  abovementioned  Com- 
missary and  Notary,  on  the  twentieth  of  June  cur- 
rent was  then  read  de  verbo  ad  verbum,  the  depo- 
nent hearing  and  understanding  the  same. 

She  declared  it  was  her  declaration,  and  cor- 
rectly recorded  ;  that  she  had  nothing  to  add  or 
alter  respecting  it,  as  it  was  the  truth,  and  she  at- 
tested it  for  the  same,  and  if  necessary  was  ready 
to  repeat  the  whole  anew  against  the  said  Joseph 
Jalbert,  not  out  of  malice  or  ill  will,  but  solely  to 
discharge  her  conscience.     Secrecy  was  enjoined 


252  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

upon  her  which  she  promised  to  observe,  and  the 
deponent  not  being  able  to  write,  I,  the  said  Com- 
missary, sign  in  her  name,  along  with  the  honest 
persons. 

Narciso  Coll,  Commissary, 

and  for  the  said  Witness. 
Gines  Torrent,  Presbyter, 

in  the  same  name. 
Thomas  Parella,  Presbyter. 
Before  me — 

Joseph  Gasull,  Presbyter  Notary. 


In  the  city  of  Gerona,  on  the  twentysecond  day  of 
June,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seven,  be- 
fore Dr  Narciso  Coll,  Presbyter,  Inquisitor  Hono- 
rary, and  Commissary  appointed  for  this  investi- 
gation, and  me,  Joseph  Gasull,  Presbyter  Notary, 
sworn  to  preserve  secrecy  and  perform  faithfully 
our  duties,  appeared,  voluntarily,  and  made  oath 
to  declare  the  truth  and  preserve  secrecy  in  eve- 
rything which  she  knew,  and  about  which  she 
might  be  interrogated,  a  person  calling  herself 
Eulalia  Forcat,  of  the  city  of  Barcelona,  aged 
about  thirty  years,  a  nun,  and  attendant  upon  the 
foundlings  in  the  Royal  Hospicio  of  this  city. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  or  suspected  the  cause 
of  her  being  summoned  to  appear  by  the  Holy  Of- 
fice. 

Answered,  that  she  did  not  know. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  or  had  heard  that  any 
person  had  said  or  done  anything  which  was  or 
appeared  to  be    contrary  to  our   Holy  Catholic 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  253 

Faith  and  Evangelical  Law,  or  against  the  just 
proceedings  of  the  Holy  Office.  Answered,  that 
at  present  she  could  remember  nothing. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  or  had  heard  that  any 
Ecclesiastic  had  practised  irregularities  towards 
any  person  of  the  other  sex  in  hearing  them  often 
at  confession. 

Answered,  that  all  she  knew  was  this  ;  about 
two  years  ago  she  served  as  a  domestic  in  this 
city,  along  with  Agustina  Buxeras,  who  afterwards 
lived  in  the  family  of  Puigcech,  a  button  maker, 
in  the  Plazuela  de  Basea  in  Barcelona,  and  being 
at  that  time  in  the  house  of  Seiiores  Francisco 
Galup  and  Cayetano,  merchants,  in  the  Calle  de 
la  Merced  in  Barcelona,  she  heard,  on  several  oc- 
casions, the  said  Agustina  declare  that  on  con- 
fessing herself  to  the  Reverend  Father  Fr.  Anto- 
nio Puig,  of  Barcelona,  of  the  order  of  San  Fran- 
cisco de  Asis,  he  had  ordered  her  many  times  at 
evening  to  go  into  a  room  at  the  entrance  of  the 
church  of  the  Convent  of  San  Francisco,  on  the 
right  hand,  where  he  disciplined  her  and  caused 
her  to  do  the  same  to  herself,  and  that  he  had 
done  this  also  at  the  house  of  the  abovemen- 
tioned  Seiiores  Galup.  This  the  deponent  learn- 
ed from  the  mouth  of  the  said  Agustina,  and  fur- 
thermore by  examining  her  person  on  the  second 
occasion,  when  she  found  her  posteriors  were 
black  and  blue,  and  that  she  had  evidently  been 
severely  handled. 

The  said  Augustina  also  informed  her  that  in 
one  or  more  of  these  instances  while  she  was  in 


254  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

the  room  with  the  abovementioned  Confessor,  at 
the  entrance  of  the  Convent,  he  had  taken  off  her 
petticoat  and  stays  to  give  her  the  discipline ;  at 
the  same  time  he  uncovered  his  back,  which  she 
supposed  was  done  for  the  purpose  of  exhibiting 
the  effect  of  his  flagellation.  These  confessions 
and  disciplines  continued,  as  the  deponent  learned, 
for  some  time,  when  finding  that  he  did  nothing 
to  effect  her  admission  as  a  nun  into  some  Con- 
vent, of  which  she  was  desirous,  she  left  him  and 
sought  another  Confessor.  What  other  things 
were  done  was  not  known. 

The  deponent  was  then  informed  that  informa- 
tion had  been  received  in  this  Holy  Office  that  on 
the  time  above  specified,  while  she  was  confined 
to  her  bed  by  some  indisposition,  her  Confessor 
had  paid  her  a  visit,  and  in  conversation  upon 
penal  mortifications  he  had  uncovered  a  part  of 
her  body,  examined  it,  and  touched  with  his  hands 
the  places  where  she  exercised  her  discipline,  de- 
manding if  she  felt  any  pain  while  he  was  touch- 
ing them.  Therefore,  by  virtue  of  the  oath  she  had 
sworn,  she  was  exhorted  to  bethink  herself,  reflect 
attentively  upon  the  matter,  and  declare  the  truth. 

Answered,  that  this  was  all  true  ;  that  it  occur- 
red in  the  abovementioned  house  of  the  Senores 
Galup,  with  the  aforesaid  Father  Fr.  Antonio 
Puig,  her  Confessor,  and  that  on  this  occasion 
she  did  not  confess  herself  to  him.  She  did  not 
remember  how  long  she  had  then  gone  without  con- 
fessing, nor  how  long  she  deferred  afterwards  con- 
fessing to  the  same  person.  She  however  continu- 
ed in  company  with  him  but  without  ever  speak- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  255 

ing  of  the  matter.  She  knew  not  whether  the 
abovementioned  Father  had  ever  solicited  any 
person  during  confession  or  at  any  other  time,  nor 
had  ever  heard  that  any  person  has  declared  that 
there  was  no  obligation  to  denounce  such  things 
to  the  Holy  Office,  but  has  heard  the  contrary 
from  her  present  Confessor,  Father  Fr.  Vicente 
Xaus,  a  monk  of  the  same  order,  and  now  a  con- 
ventual in  this  city  of  Gerona. 

Questioned,  what  was  the  age  and  personal  ap- 
pearance of  the  said  Father  Fr.  Antonio  Puig,  al- 
so his  condition,  residence,  &c. 

Answered,  that  she  believed  him  to  be  under 
forty  years  of  age,  that  he  was  of  a  middling 
height,  rather  thin,  with  a  handsome  face,  large 
black  eyes  and  eyebrows,  hair  and  beard  a  little 
whitened,  and  that  she  believes  he  resides  in  Bar- 
celona as  one  of  the  four  ordinary  Confessors  of 
the  aforesaid  Convent. 

The  above  having  been  read  in  her  presence,  she 
affirmed  that  it  was  correctly  recorded  conforma- 
bly to  her  declaration  ;  that  she  had  nothing  to 
add  or  alter  respecting  it,  as  it  was  the  truth ;  and 
that  it  was  not  uttered  by  her  out  of  malice  or  ill 
will  against  the  abovementioned  ecclesiastic,  but 
solely  to  discharge  her  conscience.  Secrecy  was 
enjoined  upon  her,  which  she  promised,  and  being 
unable  to  write,  I,  the  said  commissary  sign  in  her 
name. 

Narciso  Coll,  Commissary, 

and  Presbyter  for  the  Deponent. 
Before  me —      Joseph  Gasull,  Presbyter  Notary. 


256  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

In  the  Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Bar- 
celona, on  the  twentyninth  day  of  August,  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  eightyone,  the  In- 
quisitor Licentiate,  Dr  Manuel  de  Merra  y  Pania- 
gua, ordered  to  appear  before  him  according  to 
summons,  a  foreigner,  established  in  this  city,  who, 
being  present,  was  formally  sworn  to  declare  the 
truth  and  preserve  secrecy  with  respect  to  every- 
thing which  he  knew,  and  concerning  which  he 
might  be  interrogated,  and  in  relation  to  every- 
thing which  he  might  see  or  understand,  and 
everything  which  might  befall  him. 

Questioned,  his  name,  birthplace,  residence, 
condition,  age,  and  occupation. 

Answered,  that  his  name  was  Pedro  Remson ; 
that  he  was  born  in  the  town  of  St  Jean  in  the 
district  of  Laval,  in  France  ;  that  he  had  resided 
in  this  city  four  years,  doing  business  as  a  linen 
draper ;  that  he  had  no  wife,  and  was  about  thir- 
tyfive  years  of  age. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the  cause 
of  his  being  summoned  to  appear  by  this  Tri- 
bunal. 

Answered,  that  he  neither  knew  nor  conjec- 
tured. 

Questioned,  if  he  had  said  or  done  anything 
which  was  or  appeared  to  be  a  matter  within  the 
cognizance  of  the  Holy  Office,  or  against  our  Holy 
Catholic  Faith  and  Evangelical  Law. 

Answered,  that  he  had  never  said  or  done  any- 
thing contrary  to  the  Catholic  Faith,  nor  anything 
pertaining  to  the  cognizance  of  the  Holy  Office, 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  257 

He  was  then  told  that  information  had  been  re- 
ceived and  sworn  to  in  this  Holy  Office,  that  he,  the 
deponent,  had  uttered  certain  speeches  containing 
matter  which  came  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
Holy  Office  ;  that  he  was  summoned  to  be  exam- 
ined respecting  it,  and  that  he  would  do  well  to 
confess  the  whole  before  he  was  compelled  to  it. 

Answered,  that  he  was  confident  he  had  never 
said  or  done  anything  of  the  kind  unless  the  fol- 
lowing could  be  denominated  such.  About  a 
year  since,  conversing  with  Carlos  Coquet  with 
whom  he  resided  in  this  city,  speaking  of  our  La- 
dy, of  Mary  and  her  image,  the  deponent  affirmed 
that  the  Holy  Virgin  Mother  of  God  was  the  only 
one,  and  that  there  was  no  difference  between  the 
image  of  Our  Lady,  of  Mary,  and  any  other.  On 
another  occasion,  about  the  same  time,  he  told  the 
abovementioned  Coquet  that  in  France  they  were 
not  obliged  to  present  certificates  of  compliance 
with  the  annual  precepts  of  sacramental  confession 
and  communion  ;  that  he  considered  it  a  burden- 
some practice  and  exposed  to  great  abuses,  and 
that  he  had  understood  these  certificates  were  of- 
ten sold  about  to  persons  who  did  not  choose  to 
comply  with  the  precept,  which  thing  he  had 
heard  publicly  declared  in  coffee  houses  and  club- 
rooms,  but  did  not  recollect  by  what  persons. 

At  another  time,  finding  that  at  his  meal  the  oil 
did  not  suit  his  taste  nor  agree  with  him,  he  ob- 
served to  the  said  Coquet  that  he  thought  he 
should  not  offend  by  eating  the  fat  of  beef  on  fast 
days,  in  place  of  oil. 
33 


258  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

On  another  occasion,  about  the  same  time,  be- 
ing out  of  the  city,  Josefa  Coquet,  wife  of  the 
abovementioned  Carlos  Coquet,  was  looking  over 
his  books,  among  which  she  found  one  entitled 
La  Henriade,  by  Mons.  Voltaire,  which  book  be- 
longed to  Bernardo  Carles,  a  Frenchman,  who 
passed  through  this  city  for  Andalusia,  and  gave 
the  book  in  keeping  to  the  deponent.  He  received 
it  knowing  that  it  was  a  prohibited  book.  When 
the  deponent  returned  to  the  city,  the  said  Jose- 
fa Coquet  told  him,  with  a  mysterious  look,  that 
she  had  seen  this  book,  and  that  her  Confessor 
had  ordered  her  to  give  information  of  it  to  the 
Holy  Office.  He  replied  that  she  had  done 
wrong,  and  should  have  given  up  the  book  on 
mentioning  it.  He  offered  her  the  key  of  his 
writing  desk  that  she  might  see  whether  he  had 
any  other  bad  or  prohibited  book. 

Another  day,  talking  with  the  aforesaid  Coquet 
about  the  infallibility  of  the  Pope,  the  deponent 
declared  that  inasmuch  as  he  had  never  read  in 
any  book  that  the  Pope  was  infallible,  although 
he  believed  and  held  him  to  be  the  head  of  the 
church,  yet  he  was  persuaded  that  God  alone  was 
infallible  ;  that  the  catechism  which  was  taught 
him  in  France  did  not  declare  that  the  Pope  was 
infallible,  and  therefore  he  did  not  believe  it ;  but 
if  his  confessor  or  any  other  learned  person  were 
to  say  that  he  was,  he  should  believe  it ;  upon 
which  Coquet  was  offended  and  went  off  to  his  own 
apartment.  Further  than  this  he  did  not  remem- 
ber to  have  said  or  done  anything  relating  to  mat- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  259 

ters  of  religion,  and  if  he  were  apprised  of  any- 
thing, which  had  been  denounced  to  the  Holy  Of- 
fice, he  would  disclose  all  he  knew  with  the  same 
sincerity. 

He  was  then  told  that  information  had  been  re- 
ceived and  sworn  to  in  this  Holy  Office,  that  he, 
the  deponent,  had  said  he  was  a  freemason, 
and  had  a  book  containing  the  constitutions  of 
that  society,  that  he  produced  the  book,  read  a 
portion  of  it,  and  declared  that  there  was  nothing 
in  it  contrary  to  the  Catholic  Religion ;  further- 
more, that  the  person  to  whom  he  made  these  as- 
sertions and  read  the  book,  making  some  objec- 
tions, and  telling  him  to  conceal  the  book  and  take 
care  that  it  came  not  to  the  knowledge  of  the  In- 
quisition, for  they  would  punish  him,  he  laughed 
at  him. 

Answered,  that  it  was  false  that  he  had  ever 
told  any  one  that  he  was  a  freemason,  as  he  was 
not,  nor  ever  had  been  one  of  that  order,  although 
he  had  held  communication  with  some  of  them  in 
France,  had  dined  with  them,  and  seen  them  con- 
verse together  by  signs  ;  also,  that  he  never  pos- 
sessed, nor  said  that  he  possessed  a  book  contain- 
ing their  constitutions,  and  although  he  once  had 
a  book  which  spake  in  praise  of  freemasons,  and 
commended  their  charities  and  other  good  works, 
yet  it  was  false  that  he  ever  read  any  part  of  the 
same  to  any  person  ;  that  he  burnt  this  book  with 
some  other  papers  in  presence  of  the  abovemen- 
tioned  Josefa  Coquet,  and  that  he  did  not  remem- 
ber to  have  made  the  assertions  imputed  to  him 


260  RECORDS  OF  THE     SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

He  was  then  told  that  information  had  been  al- 
so received  and  sworn  to,  that  he,  the  deponent, 
on  a  certain  occasion,  gave  to  another  person  a 
book  whose  author  was  Mons.  Voltaire,  informing 
him  that  he  had  possessed  it  for  fifteen  years  ;  and 
that  a  certain  ecclesiastic  reprehending  him  for 
it,  he  replied  that  the  book  was  not  his,  and  that 
on  the  same  day,  in  presence  of  the  person  afore- 
said, he  burnt  some  papers,  saying,  that  he  did  it 
for  fear  of  the  Inquisition. 

Answered,  that  the  first  part  of  this  assertion 
was  false  ;  namely,  that  relating  to  the  work  of 
Mons.  Voltaire,  and  that  no  part  of  it  was  true, 
except  what  he  had  already  related  as  having 
passed  between  him  and  Josefa  Coquet ;  that  it 
was  true  he  had  burnt,  in  her  presence,  the  book 
in  praise  of  the  freemasons,  the  history  of  the  Incas 
of  Peru,  and  some  papers  relating  to  the  entertain- 
ments given  to  the  Prince  of  Chartres,  who  was 
considered  as  the  head  of  the  freemasons,  and 
also  that  he  declared  he  had  done  the  same  for 
fear  of  the  Inquisition. 

It  being  late,  the  audience  closed,  and  the  de- 
ponent was  ordered  to  appear  again  the  next  morn- 
ing. The  whole  was  read  to  him  and  he  declared 
it  to  be  true,  which  I  certify. 

Pedro  Remusson. 

Juan  Antonio  Almonacid,  Sec'y. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  261 

To  the  Members  of  the  Tribunal  of  the  Inqui- 
sition of  Catalonia,  at  their  Royal  Palace,  Barce- 
lona. 

Barcelona,  March  20th,  1802. 

MOST  ILLUSTRIOUS   SIR, 

I  have  some  information  to  give  your  Excellen- 
cy respecting  a  certain  person  who  has  uttered  in 
my  presence  some  words  which  it  appears  to  me 
come  within  the  cognizance  of  your  Excellency. 
Various  causes  have  hindered  me  from  appearing 
before  the  respectable  tribunal  of  your  Excellen- 
cy and  denouncing  the  whole  matter.  I  trust 
your  Excellency  will  favor  me  so  far  as  to  take  my 
deposition  at  the  hands  of  some  clerical  person. 
1  live  in  the  Calle  Ancha,  in  the  second  room  of 
a  house  which  forms  the  corner  of  the  Callejon 
de  la  Plata,  No.  1,  and  for  more  particular  di- 
rection, my  house  is  so  near  that  of  Senor  Don 
Juan  Larra,  that  nothing  separates  them  but  the 
abovementioned  Callejon. 

Your  Excellency's  most  humble  servant, 
Maria  Bernarda  Hallegg,  wife  of 
Don  Pedro  Hallegg,  Captain  in  the 

Regiment  of  Rutiman. 


In  the  city  of  Barcelona,  on  the  third  day  of 
June,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  two,  be- 
fore Dr  Andres  Fernandez  de  la  Cuesta,  Pres- 
byter and  Commissary  appointed  for  this  investi- 
gation, and  me,  the  Reverend  Cayetano  Tuco, 
Presbyter,  Commissary,  and  Notary  on  this  occa- 
sion, sworn  to  preserve  secrecy  and  perform  faith- 


262  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

fully  our  duties,  appeared,  voluntarily,  and  made 
oath  to  declare  the  truth  and  preserve  secrecy 
with  respect  to  everything  which  she  knew  and 
about  which  she  might  be  interrogated,  a  person 
calling  herself  Dona  Maria  Bernardo  Halegg,  wife 
of  Don  Pedro  Hallegg,  Captain  in  the  Regiment  of 
Rutiman,  a  native  of  the  town  of  Estipona,  in  the 
province  of  Andalusia,  of  age,  as  she  stated,  twen- 
tyfour  years,  and  residing  in  the  Calle  de  la  Plata. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  or  conjectured  the 
cause  of  her  being  summoned  to  appear  by  the 
Tribunal  of  the  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  that  she  supposed  it  to  be  on  account 
of  a  letter«which  her  Confessor  had  written  in  her 
name  to  the  Holy  Office,  in  which  letter  she  had 
declared  that  she  had  some  information  to  com- 
municate. The  matter  in  question  was  as  follows. 
About  six  months  ago,  Juan  Picar,  a  native  of 
Lyons,  in  France,  who  visited  at  her  house,  utter- 
ed the  following  heretical  speeches  ;  namely,  that 
he  did  not  believe  in  the  purity  of  the  Most  Holy 
Mary ;  that  he  did  not  believe  Jesus  Christ  descend- 
ed to  the  Host  after  the  words  of  consecration  were 
uttered  by  the  Priest ;  that  he  did  not  believe  in  the 
Pope,  inasmuch  as  he  was  a  man  like  ourselves; 
that  those  who  died  did  not  go  to  Hell,  but  to  Para- 
dise ;  that  he  said  '  Holy  Mary'  instead  of  'Most 
Holy  Mary ; '  that  he  spoke  ill  of  the  Priests,  de- 
claring that  he  could  not  endure  the  sight  of  them, 
and  that  they  had  ruined  Spain  ;  that  the  French 
had  done  well  in  driving  them  all  out  of  their 
country.     The  deponent  stated  further,  that  she 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  263 

believed  he  did  not  attend  mass  on  the  days  ap- 
pointed, although  he  professed  to  be  a  Christian. 

She  was  then  shown  a  letter  beginning  with 
1  Barcelona,  March  20th,  1802,'  and  ending  with 
'  Don  Pedro  Halegg,  Captain  in  the  Regiment 
of  Rutiman,'  that  she  might  examine  and  identify 
it,  and  declare  it  to  have  been  written  by  her,  or 
by  her  direction  in  her  name,  and  containing  the 
truth. 

Answered,  that  it  was  the  identical  one  which 
she  had  caused  to  be  written  by  her  Father  Con- 
fessor, and  that  she  attested  it  for  the  truth  ;  that 
she  had  nothing  to  add  or  alter  in  relation  to  it, 
and  that  she  had  not  made  her  declarations  out  of 
malice  or  enmity  against  the  abovementioned  per- 
son, nor  from  any  counsel  or  instigation  on  the 
part  of  any  other  person. 

Questioned,  why  she  had  delayed  to  denounce 
these  offences  to  the  Holy  Office,  thereby  failing 
n  her  obligation  to  give  notice  of  all  such  matters 
immediately  upon  having  knowledge  of  the  same. 

Answered,  that  she  wished  previously  to  con- 
sult her  Father  Confessor,  and  that  she  obeyed  up- 
on receiving  his  orders. 

Questioned,  at  what  time  and  in  what  place  he 
made  the  abovementioned  assertions  ;  what  per- 
sons were  present ;  if  he  said  them  more  than 
once,  and  how  many  times  ;  whether  he  spoke  in 
his  own  language,  or  quoted  others  who  made  the 
assertions  referred  to  ;  whether  he  spoke  in  jest,  in 
dispute,  or  in  a  passion ;  whether  he  was  accustom- 
ed to  utter  such  words ;  whether  he  was  rebuked 
by  any  persons  present,  and  by  whom  ;  whether, 


264  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

after  being  rebuked,  he  persisted  in  his  assertions, 
and  whether  at  the  time  of  speaking  he  was  in  his 
right  mind,  or  was  insane  or  drunk. 

Answered,  that  she  had  already  specified  the 
time,  and  that  it  happened  at  her  house  ;  that 
there  were  present  occasionally  her  husband 
abovementioned  ;  her  brother-in-law,  Don  Martin 
Halegg,  who  resided  there,  a  servant  named 
Francisca  Garriga,  living  in  the  Callejon  de  Santa 
Anna,  and  who  went  to  be  married  at  Tarragona, 
but  her  present  place  of  residence  the  deponent 
does  not  know,  and  another  servant  named  An- 
tonia,  who  lives  in  a  lane  near  La  Trinidad  Cal- 
zada,  and  is  the  daughter  of  a  schoolmaster  in 
that  lane  ;  that  he  repeated  the  above  assertions 
many  times,  so  often  that  she  could  not  recollect 
the  number ;  that  he  spoke  affirmatively,  and  se- 
riously ;  that  she  did  not  think  he  was  accustom- 
ed to  such  talk,  as  he  had  not  repeated  it  for  more 
than  two  months  ;  that  he  was  rebuked  several 
times  by  the  abovementioned  persons  and  the  de- 
ponent, but  took  no  heed  ;  and  that  on  most  of 
these  occasions  he  was  in  his  right  mind,  although 
a  few  times  he  was  intoxicated. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  that  any  other  person 
had  said  or  done  anything  which  came  within  the 
cognizance  of  the  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  No. 

Questioned,  what  was  or  appeared  to  be  the 
age  of  the  abovementioned  Juan  Picar,  also  his 
personal  appearance  and  condition. 

Answered,  that  he  was  about  fortyfour  years  of 
age,  tall,  thin,  with  a  light  complexion,  blue  eyes, 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  265 

and  red  hair  ;  and  that  he  was  a  soldier  in  the 
aforesaid  regiment. 

The  above  being  read  to  her,  she  affirmed  it  to 
be  recorded  conformably  to  her  declaration ;  that 
she  had  nothing  to  add  or  alter  respecting  it,  as  it 
was  the  truth;  and  that  she  did  not  utter  it  out  of 
malice  or  ill  will  against  the  said  Juan  Picar,  but 
solely  to  discharge  her  conscience.  Secrecy  was 
enjoined  upon  her,  which  she  promised  to  observe, 
and  added  her  signature,  which  I  certify. 

After  the  declaration  had  been  read,  and  before 
it  was  signed,  the  deponent  recollected  that  the 
abovementioned  Juan  Picar  observed  to  her  hus- 
band, that  a  person,  on  dying,  passed  to  the  other 
world  without  suffering  any  punishment.  Also 
she  had  been  informed  by  her  sister-in-law,  Dona 
Rafaela  Reymer,  wife  of  a  captain  out  of  service, 
named  Don  Joseph  Reymer,  who  lives  in  the  Calle 
de  San  Pablo,  No.  14,  third  story,  that  two  officers 
of  the  said  regiment,  the  one  named  Martin  Esti- 
nause,  and  the  other  unknown,  uttered  blasphemies 
respecting  a  figure  of  Christ. 

All  which  she  denounces  to  the  Holy  Office  in 
discharge  of  her  conscience,  and  under  the  oath 
of  secrecy  sworn  by  her.  She  added  her  signa- 
ture, which  I  certify. 

Maria  Bernarda  Hallegg. 
Dr  Andres  Fernandez  de  la  Cuesta, 

.  Presbyter  and  Commissary. 
Caietano  Tuco,  Presbyter,  Commissary, 

and  Notary. 

34 


266  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 


MOST  ILLUSTRIOUS   SIR, 

Francisco  Prat,  Subdeacon,  native  of  Esponella, 
and  a  resident  in  the  Seminario  del  Sefior,  in  the 
bishopric  of  Gerona,  by  counsel  and  order  of  the 
Reverend  Juan  Salgueda  his  Confessor,  gives  in- 
formation with  due  respect  to  your  Excellency,  of 
the  following  matter. 

About  six  months  since,  in  this  city,  he  heard 
Narcisa  Catala  y  Pinsach,  the  wife  of  a  French- 
man, and  reputed  a  woman  of  truth,  and  a  native 
of  Gerona,  dwelling  in  the  Mercadal  Parish  of  that 
city — declare  that  a  Frenchman  who  was  a  stock- 
ing weaver  in  the  Hospicio  of  the  same  city,  whose 
name  was  Blaqueire,  and  whose  age  was  about 
thirty  years,  had  been  baptized  since  he  was  in 
Spain,  but  had  prevaricated  and  embraced  some 
heresy. 

Also  that  a  certain  Frenchman,  named  Avi  Brich, 
aged  about  sixty  years,  residing  in  the  said  city  of 
Gerona,  and  likewise  a  stocking  weaver  in  the 
Hospicio,  was  a  Jew,  and  the  writer  of  this  letter 
observing  that  they  ought  to  commune  annually, 
otherwise  they  would  be  severely  punished,  she 
replied  that  in  order  to  deceive  the  spies,  he  took 
the  sacrament  not  merely  once,  but  two  or  three 
times  every  year. 

Which  information  I  transmit  to  your  Excellency 
for  the  necessary  end. 

Gerona,  April  28th,  1791. 

Francisco  Prat,  Subdeacon. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  267 

We  herewith  transmit  to  the  Reverend  Juan 
Salgueda,  Presbyter  Vicar  of  the  church  of  the 
Mercadal  of  Gerona,  the  extrajudicial  denuncia- 
tion of  Francisco  Prat,  Subdeacon,  a  resident  in 
the  Episcopal  Seminario  of  that  city,  and  we  grant 
a  commission  for  examining  him  before  another 
Ecclesiastic  as  Notary,  according  to  the  formula 
adjoined,  No.  1,  in  order  that  the  denunciation 
may  be  attested,  and  he  may  affirm,  under  oath, 
that  it  is  his,  written  and  signed  by  him,  and  its 
contents  true,  as  also  whether  he  has  anything  to 
add  or  alter  respecting  it,  and  from  what  motive 
the  said  Narcisa  Catala  y  Pinsach  made  the 
charges  in  question  against  the  two  Frenchmen. 

Having  taken  the  deposition  of  Francisco  Prat, 
you  will  take  the  occasion  and  methods  the  most 
cautious  and  opportune  to  examine  before  the 
same  Notary,  and  according  to  the  formula  No.  2, 
the  said  Narcisa  Catala  y  Pinsach,  respecting  the 
matters  referred  to  by  Francisco  Prat,  taking  care 
not  to  mention  to  her  the  name  of  this  person,  nor 
the  names  of  the  Frenchmen  accused,  inasmuch 
as  she  will  state  them  herself  should  her  testimony 
corroborate  the  charge,  in  which  case  she  will 
specify  the  name,  occupation,  country,  residence, 
age,  and  personal  appearance  of  each  individual. 
Also  if  she  knows  whether  one  of  them  has  been 
baptized  in  Spain,  when,  in  what  Parish,  and  what 
heresy  he  embraced  afterwards.  Also  what  reas- 
on she  has  for  saying  that  one  of  them  is  a  Jew, 
and  in  order  to  deceive  the  spies,  takes  the  com- 
munion not  merely  once,  but  two  or  three  times 


268  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

a  year.  You  will  also  question  her  whether  she 
has  heard  or  understood  anything  from  these  two 
Frenchmen  or  others,  which  is,  or  appears  to  be, 
contrary  to  our  Holy  Catholic  Faith,  or  within  the 
cognisance  of  the  Holy  Office,  in  which  case  she 
must  declare  whatever  she  knows,  with  the  utmost 
clearness  and  perspicuity. 

These  investigations  being  completed,  you  will 
forward  the  proceedings  to  us,  returning  also  all 
the  papers.     Our  Lord  preserve  you. 

Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barcelona, 
June  11th,  1791. 

The  Licentiate, 

Don  Manuel  de  Merra  y  Paniagua. 

Dr  Don  Pedro  Diaz  de  Valdes. 

Juan  Antonio  Almonacid,  Secretary. 


In  the  city  of  Gerona,  Principality  of  Catalonia 
on  the  thirtieth  day  of  June,  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  ninetyone,  before  us,  Juan  Salgueda, 
Presbyter  Vicar  of  the  Mercadal  and  Commissary 
of  the  Holy  Office  for  this  investigation,  and  Dr 
Marcial  Llistorella,  Presbyter  Notary,  sworn  to 
preserve  secrecy,  and  perform  faithfully  our  duties, 
appeared  according  to  summons,  and  made  oath 
to  declare  the  truth  and  preserve  secrecy,  a  per- 
son calling  himself  Francisco  Prat,  Subdeacon  of 
the  village  of  Esponella  in  the  bishopric  of  Gero- 
na, aged  twentyeight  years. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the  cause 
of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  269 

Answered,  that  he  supposed  it  to  be  on  account 
of  a  denunciation  he  had  made,  respecting  some- 
thing he  had  heard  from  Narcisa  Catala  y  Pin- 
sach.    • 

He  was  then  informed  that  a  letter  had  been  re- 
ceived in  this  Holy  Office,  which  appeared  to  be 
from  him,  which  letter  began  with  '  Francisco 
Prat,  Subdeacon,'  and  ended  with  '  for  the  neces- 
sary ends.'  This  letter  was  then  produced,  when 
he  recognised  it,  and  declared  it  to  be  the  one 
which  he  wrote  to  the  Tribunal,  and  that  its  con- 
tents were  true. 

Questioned,  if  he  had  anything  to  add  thereto. 

Answered,  that  in  the  conversation  referred  to, 
the  abovementioned  Narcisa  Catala  y  Pinsach 
stated  that  some  other  Frenchmen  abused  the  said 
Francisco  Blaqueire  on  account  of  his  prevarica- 
tion respecting  our  religion,  and  that  this  happen- 
ed in  her  house.  Also,  (but  of  this  he  is  not  cer- 
tain) he  believed  she  declared  that  the  father  and 
brother  of  the  said  Blaqueire  who  reside  in  Mon- 
tagut  or  Tortella,  in  the  bishopric  of  Gerona,  re- 
fused to  live  with  him  by  reason  of  his  baptism, 
and  that  they  had  not  been  baptized  ;  at  any  rate 
she  said  something  respecting  this. 

Furthermore  he  had  been  told  by  Maria,  the 
sister  of  the  aforesaid  Narcisa  Pinsach,  that  Fran- 
cisco Brich  was  a  Jew.  This  she  told  the  depo- 
nent in  his  own  house  ;  the  like  assertion  he  had 
heard  from  some  of  the  common  people,  but  did 
not  recollect  whom. 


270  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Questioned,  what  gave  rise  to  the  aforesaid  con- 
versation ;  why  the  charges  were  made  ;  and  see- 
ing that  it  was  his  duty  to  oppose  and  denounce 
such  matters,  why  he  waited  six  months  before  he 
gave  information. 

Answered,  that  he  chanced  to  remark,  while 
waiting  for  the  husband  of  the  said  Narcisa  Pin- 
sach,  that  the  abovenamed  Brich  appeared  to 
be  an  honest  man,  to  which  she  replied  that  he 
was  not,  when  the  rest  of  the  assertions  followed ; 
that  the  charges  were  made  in  compliance  with 
the  dictates  of  his  conscience ;  and  that  he  had 
spoken  of  the  matter  before,  but  had  been  told 
that  it  was  women's  tattle. 

Questioned,  what  was  the  appearance  of  the 
persons  in  question. 

Answered,  that  he  had  no  knowledge  of  Fran- 
cisco Blaqueire  ;  and  that  the  said  Brich  is  a  man 
of  middling  stature,  corpulent,  somewhat  florid, 
and  of  a  pacific  temper  ;  and  that  he  knew  nothing 
of  his  birthplace,  except  that  he  was  a  French- 
man. 

The  above  is  the  truth  according  to  the  oath  of 
the  deponent,  who  has  not  made  this  declaration 
out  of  malice  or  ill  will,  but  solely  in  discharge  of 
his  conscience  ;  he  declared  that  it  was  correctly 
recorded,  and  signed  it  in  the  city  of  Gerona,  on 
the  first  day  of  July,  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  ninetyone. 

Francisco  Prat,  Subdeacon. 

Before  me — 
Dr  Marcial  Llistorella,  Presbyter  Notary. 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  271 

In  the  city  of  Gerona,  on  the  second  day  of 
July,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninetyone, 
before  us,  Juan  Salgueda,  Presbyter,  Vicar  of  the 
Mercadal  of  Gerona,  and  Commissary  of  the  Holy 
Office,  and  Dr  Marcial  Llistorella,  Presbyter  No- 
tary, sworn  to  preserve  secrecy  and  perform  faith- 
fully our  duties,  appeared,  according  to  summons, 
and  made  oath  to  declare  the  truth  and  preserve 
secrecy,  Narcisa  Catala  y  Pinsach,  wife  of  Joseph 
Fabrega,  commonly  called  Catala,  stocking  wea- 
ver, a  native  and  inhabitant  of  Gerona,  of  age,  as 
she  stated,  twentyeight  years. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  the  cause  of  her  being 
summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  No. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  that  any  person  had 
said  or  done  anything  which  was,  or  appeared  to 
be  contrary  to  our  Holy  Catholic  Faith,  and 
Evangelical  Law. 

Answered,  that  she  had  been  told  that  Francis- 
co Brich,  alias  Lo  Avi  Brich,  and  Francisco  Bla- 
queire,  stocking  weavers,  in  the  Hospicio  of  this 
city,  were  Protestants  ;  and  that  the  said  Blaqueire 
had  been  baptized  since  his  residence  in  Spain, 
but  she  knew  not  in  what  Parish.  Also,  that  he 
could  not  live  with  his  parents  because  they  were 
Protestants.     His  parents  live  in  France. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  whether  the  said  Bla- 
queire had  embraced  any  heresy. 

Answered,  that  she  only  knew  he  was  a  Protes- 
tant, according  as  she  was  informed  by  her  moth- 
er, now  dead,  who  asserted  that  she  was  unwilling 


272  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

to  let  her  other  daughter  marry  the  said  Blaqueire 
because  he  was  a  Protestant.  The  same  assertion 
she  has  heard  from  many  other  persons  ;  she  could 
not  remember  whom,  but  believed  they  were  people 
of  the  vulgar  sort. 

Questioned,  if  she  had  told  this  to  any  other 
person. 

Answered,  that  what  had  been  told  her,  she  had 
told  to  others,  but  to  whom  she  could  not  say. 

Here  closed  the  deposition  of  the  second  of  July, 
and  on  the  fourth  of  the  same  month,  the  said 
Narcisa  Fabra  Catala  y  Pinsach  appeared  again. 

Questioned,  if  she  had  anything  to  add  to  the 
declaration  which  she  had  made  against  Francisco 
Blaqueire. 

Answered,  No. 

Questioned,  what  was  the  personal  appearance 
of  this  man. 

Answered,  that  he  was  about  thirty  years  of  age, 
of  a  moderate  stature,  and  corpulent ;  that  she 
did  not  know  his  birthplace,  only  that  he  was  a 
Frenchman  ;  that  he  was  desirous  of  marrying, 
and  that  he  was  a  stocking  weaver,  but  in  what  fac- 
tory he  worked  she  did  not  know. 

Questioned,  why  she  supposed  the  abovenam- 
ed  Brich  to  be  a  Protestant. 

Answered,  that  she  did  not  know  it  for  certain, 
but  had  heard  of  it  in  the  same  manner  in  which 
she  learned  the  history  of  Francisco  Blaqueire,  and 
that  perhaps  she  had  told  it  to  others. 

She  was  then  informed  that  information  had 
been  received  and  sworn  to  in  the  Holy  Office, 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  273 

that  in  a  certain  conversation  a  certain  person  ob- 
served that  Avi  Brich  appeared  to  be  an  honest 
man,  to  which  she  replied,  '  He  is  not  an  honest 
man,  but  a  Jew. '  And  it  being  remarked  that  in 
Spain  they  must  confess  and  partake  of  the  com- 
munion once  in  each  year,  she  replied,  that  in 
order  to  deceive  the  spies,  they  did  this  not  mere- 
ly once,  but  two  or  three  times  a  year. 

Therefore,  in  the  name  of  God  Our  Lord  and 
his  Glorious  and  Blessed  Mother  Our  Lady  the 
Virgin,  she  was  exhorted  to  bethink  herself  and 
declare  the  whole  truth. 

Answered,  that  she  did  not  remember  to  have 
said  so,  but  had  heard  say  that  if  he  had  died  in 
the  Hospital,  where  he  lay  very  sick  about  two 
years,  he  would  not  have  been  buried  in  consecrat- 
ed grounds.  At  present  she  could  not  recollect  who 
made  this  assertion,  but  she  believed  they  were 
Frenchmen. 

Questioned,  what  was  his  age  and  personal  ap- 
pearance. 

Answered,  she  had  known  him  about  six  years; 
that  he  was  of  a  middling  stature,  corpulent,  of  a 
pacific  temper,  and  above  fifty  years  old  ;  that  she 
knew  not  his  birthplace,  but  only  that  he  was  a 
Frenchman,  and  resided  in  the  parish  of  the  Mer- 
cadal  of  Gerona. 

Questioned,  if  she  knew  anything  of  any  other 
person  which  was  contrary  to  our  Faith. 

Answered,    that   she   had   been   told  by   Dona 
Manuela  de  Rodil,  that  Monsieur  Daniel,  a  French- 
man, living  in  the  parish  of  the  Mercadal,  possess- 
35 


274  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

ed  a  mirror,  which,  on  looking  into  it,  exhibited 
the  figures  of  devils.  Also,  she  had  heard,  from  the 
vulgar,  that  he  and  his  wife  were  not  Christians. 
Furthermore,  she  had  been  told  by  a  certain  Mal- 
lensa,  a  French  woman,  that  a  certain  Luis  in  her 
house  was  a  Protestant,  but  she  believed  this  was 
said  from  hatred,  and  in  order  to  get  him  out  of 
the  house.  Finally,  she  remembered  to  have 
heard  that  one  of  the  sons,  Francisco  Brich,  now 
in  France,  was  a  Protestant.  Who  made  this  as- 
sertion she  could  not  tell. 

The  above  is  the  truth  according  to  the  oath  of 
the  deponent,  who  has  not  uttered  it  out  of  malice 
or  ill  will,  but  solely  to  discharge  her  conscience ; 
and  having  been  read,  she  declared  that  it  was 
correctly  recorded. 

Done  at  Gerona  on  the  fourth  day  of  July,  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninetytvvo. 

The  said  Narcisa  Catala  Fabre  y  Pinsach  not 
being  able  to  write,  I  sign  the  above. 

Juan  Salgueda,  Presbyter,  &c. 

Before  me — 

Dr  Marcial  Llistorella,  Presbyter, 
Notary  in  this  Investigation. 
#         #         *         ■* 

MOST    ILLUSTRIOUS  SIR, 

Being  in  company  with  Juan  Bautista  Viada, 
mason,  on  the  twelfth  day  of  the  present  month, 
and  discoursing  of  sermons  upon  the  state  of  the 
soul,  I  am  very  confident  that  he  made  this  re- 
mark ;  that  he  had  heard  sundry  persons  declare 
they  believed    nothing  about    hell  or    purgatory, 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  275 

but  as  for  himself,  he  believed.  Which  informa- 
tion I  give  your  Excellency  in  obedience  to  the 
dictates  of  my  conscience. 

Mataro,  November  17th,  1819. 
Your  most  humble  servant, 

Franch.  Plana,  Carpenter. 
On  the  road  beyond  the  gate  of  Batlleix.* 


Let  a  commission  be  expedited  for  the  examin- 
ation of  the  above  letter. 


To  the  Reverend  Father  Pedro  Martir  de  S.  Vi- 
cente, Capuchin  and  Ex  Lecturer  of  his  order. 

We  hereby  grant  you  a  commission  to  summon 
before  you,  and  another  ecclesiastic  to  act  as  No- 
tary, first  swearing  secrecy,  Francisco  de  Asis 
Plana,  carpenter,  residing  opposite  the  gate  of 
Batlleix  of  this  city.  You  will  subject  him  to  a 
regular  examination  respecting  a  letter  of  his 
which  is  herewith  enclosed,  and  exact  an  oath 
from  him  that  the  letter  is  his,  written  by  himself 
and  its  contents  true.     You  will  ascertain  whether 

*  As  a  specimen  of  the  modern  Catalan  dialect,  the  original  of  the 
above  letter  is  subjoined. 

Mol  Ille  Sor 
Estan  en  la  Campana  ab  Juan  Baptista  Viada  Al1,  de  Casas  lo  Dia  12 
del  corren,  parlan  de  Sermons  de  Animas  :  meapar  mol,  que  el  digue 
de  esta  Manera ;  de  que  ell  abia  oyit  a  differens,  que  no  creyan  ab  lo 
Infern,  6  ab  lo  Purgatori,  pero  que  ell  si,  que  hi  creya. 
lo  que  delato  a  V.  S.  per  descarrch  de  la  mia  Consiencia. 
Mataro  y  Nbwi  17  de  1819. 
S.  M.  h'— S. 
Franch.  Plana  luster. 
al  Carrer  de  fora  de  lo  Portal  de  Batlleix. 


276  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

he  has  anything  to  add  or  alter  respecting  it,  and 
after  four  days  you  will  ratify  the  same  ad  perpet- 
uam,  in  the  presence  of  two  other  ecclesiastics 
sworn  to  secrecy.  In  the  same  manner  you  will 
proceed  to  take  separately  the  depositions  of  Ju- 
an Bautista  Viada,  mason,  and  of  the  other  per- 
sons whom  he  states  were  present  when  the 
speeches  in  question  were  uttered  ;  these  deposi- 
tions to  be  also  ratified.  You  will  not  omit  to 
question  him  who  these  persons  were,  according 
to  the  regular  form.  You  will  note  in  the  margin 
of  the  paper  which  shall  contain  the  depositions, 
the  degree  of  credit  which  they  deserve  ;  and  you 
will  also  transmit,  separately,  an  account  of  the 
lives,  character,  and  behaviour  of  the  persons  de- 
nounced. With  these  you  will  return  this  commis- 
sion and  the  other  papers.  God  preserve  you 
many  years. 

Royal  Palace  of  the  Inquisition  of  Barcelona, 
December  18th,  1819. 

Dr  Don  Jose  Llozer. 

The  Licentiate, 

Don  Santo  de  Basarrate. 
D.  D.  Juan  de  Calva  y  Marti,  Sec'y. 


In  the  city  of  Mataro,  bishopric  of  Barcelona, 
on  the  twentyeighth  day  of  December,  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  nineteen,  before  Father 
Pedro  Martir  de  San  Vicente,  Presbyter  and 
Commissary,  specially  appointed  in  virtue  of  a 
commission  to  this  effect,  and  before  me,  P.  Ber- 
nardino de  Barcelona,  Presbyter  Notary,  having 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  277 

sworn  to  preserve  secrecy  and  perform  faithfully 
our  duties,  appeared  voluntarily  and  made  oath 
in  the  name  of  God  our  Lord,  with  the  sign  of  the 
cross,  to  declare  the  truth  and  preserve  secrecy, 
with  respect  to  everything  demanded  of  him 
which  he  knew,  a  person  calling  himself  Francis- 
co de  Asis  Plana,  carpenter,  aged  fiftyseven  years. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the  cause 
of  his  being  summoned  to  appear  by  the  Holy 
Office. 

Answered,  Yes. 

Questioned,  if  he  had  written,  or  caused  to  be 
written  at  any  time,  a  letter  to  the  Tribunal  of  the 
Inquisition,  giving  an  account  of  some  crime  with- 
in his  knowledge,  and  who  was  the  person  to  whom 
he  referred. 

Answered,  that  he  had  written  a  letter  against 
Juan  Bautista  Viada,  mason.  The  letter  was  then 
exhibited  and  the  first  clause  of  it  read,  when  the 
deponent  declared  it  to  be  his,  and  that  its  contents 
were  true. 

Questioned,  if  he  had  anything  to  add  or  alter 
in  the  said  letter. 

Answered,  that  if  it  were  not  for  the  apprehen- 
sion of  falling  into  an  error,  he  should  alter,  'I  am 
confident,'  to  '  I  am  certain.' 

Questioned,  if  there  were  other  persons  present 
when  Juan  Bautista  Viada  made  the  assertions  in 
question. 

Answered,  No. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  that  any  other  person 
had  said  or  done  anything  which  came  under  the 
cognizance  of  the  Holy  Office. 


278  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Answered,  No. 

Questioned,  what  was  the  age,  appearance,  and 
habitation  of  the  person  denounced. 

Answered,  that  he  was  about  fiftysix  years  old, 
and  lived  in  the  Calle  de  Argentona,  in  Mataro. 

The  above  having  been  read  to  the  deponent 
was  declared  by  him  to  be  correctly  recorded.  He 
stated  further  that  he  had  nothing  to  add  or  alter 
respecting  it ;  and  that  he  did  not  make  the  de- 
clarations therein  contained,  out  of  malice,  but 
solely  from  conscientious  motives.  Secrecy  was 
enjoined  upon  him,  which  he  promised,  and  add- 
ed his  signature. 

Francisco  de  Asis  Plana. 
Fr.  Pedro  Martir  de  San  Vicente, 

Presbyter  Capuchin. 
Before  me — 

P.  Bernardino  de  Barcelona,  Presbyter, 
Notary,  and  Commissary,  appointed  for 

this  Purpose. 


In  the  city  of  Mataro,  bishopric  of  Barcelona, 
on  the  sixteenth  day  of  January,  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  twenty,  before  Father  Pedro 
Martir  de  San  Vicente,  Presbyter  Capuchin,  and 
Commissary,  by  a  special  commission  for  this 
purpose,  and  me,  Father  Bernardino  de  Barcelo- 
na, Notary,  having  sworn  to  preserve  secrecy,  and 
perform  faithfully  our  offices,  appeared  and  made 
oath  in  the  name  of  God  our  Lord,  with  the  sign 
of  the  cross,  to  declare  the  truth,  and  observe  se- 
crecy, a  person  calling  himself  Juan  Bautista  Via- 


RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION.  279 

da,  a  native  of  Mataro,  in  the  bishopric  of  Barce- 
lona, by  occupation  a  mason,  aged  fiftyfour  years. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  or  conjectured  the 
cause  of  his  being  summoned  to  appear. 

Answered,  No. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  that  any  person  or  per- 
sons had  said  there  was  no  Hell  nor  Purgatory,  or 
made  any  other  assertion  which  came  under  the 
cognisance  of  the  Holy  Office. 

Answered,  that  he  had  heard  the  above  asser- 
tion uttered  by  Magin  Casanovas,  or  Barcelo,  a 
person  who  died  two  years  since. 

Questioned,  what  persons  were  present  when 
these  words  were  spoken  ;  and  if  the  said  Magin 
Casanovas  was  in  his  right  mind  ;  also,  whether 
the  assertion  was  made  in  a  positive  manner,  or 
by  referring  to  some  other  person,  and  whether  it 
was  made  in  jest,  or  dispute,  or  passion. 

Answered,  that  he  did  not  recollect  whether  it 
was  said  in  the  presence  of  others  or  not,  but  that 
it  appeared  to  be  said  in  a  positive  manner,  and 
not  in  the  heat  of  passion  ;  that  the  abovemention- 
ed  Magin  Casanovas  was  a  Marine  Alguacil  of 
this  city,  of  which  he  was  also  a  native,  and  that 
his  age  was  about  seventy  years. 

Questioned,  if  he  remembered  how  many  times 
the  assertion  had  been  made,  and  if  he  received 
any  rebuke  for  it. 

Answered,  that  he  did  not  remember. 

Questioned,  why  he  had  not  denounced  the 
speaker  to  the  Holy  Tribunal. 

Answered,  that  the  thought  of  this  never  occur- 
red to  him. 


280  RECORDS  OF  THE  SPANISH  INQUISITION. 

Questioned,  if  he  knew  that  any  other  person 
had  said  or  done  anything  which  belonged  to  the 
cognizance  of  the  Holy  Tribunal. 

Answered,  No. 

The  above  having  been  read  to  the  deponent, 
was  declared  by  him  to  be  correctly  recorded  ; 
and  he  further  stated  that  he  had  nothing  to  add 
or  alter  respecting  it,  and  that  he  did  not  make 
the  declaration  through  malice,  but  solely  in  obedi- 
ence to  his  conscience.  Secrecy  was  enjoined 
upon  him,  which  he  promised,  and  added  his  sig- 
nature. Juan  Bautista  Viada. 
Fray  Pedro  Martir  de  San  Vicente, 

Presbyter  Capuchin  Commissary. 

Before  me — 

F.  Bernardo  de  Barcelona,  Notary. 

[The  following  is  written  in  the  margin  of  the 
above  deposition.'] 

I  know  the  deponent  Juan  Bautista  Viada  to  be 
a  person  worthy  of  credit.  He  supports  his  family 
by  his  labor ;  follows  the  precepts  of  the  church, 
confesses,  and  partakes  of  the  sacrament;  nor 
have  I  ever  heard  of  anything  which  can  impeach 
his  testimony.  This  is  my  opinion,  salvo  meliori. 
Mataro,  January  28th,  1 820. 

Fr.  Pedro  Martir  de  San  Vicente, 

Presbyter  Capuchin  Commissary. 


the  end. 


Date  Due 

,     .  - 

9 

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